These men are still owed wages and holiday pay

Dave Douglas, NUM

The miners were called out of the pit less than two hours into their morning shift last Thursday and told their jobs had gone.

Dave Douglas, the company's National Union of Mineworkers representative, said he is meeting with solicitors in an attempt to keep the pit open.

"We'll try to enforce the 90 days consultation period required by law, during which time the fabric of the mine cannot be damaged.

"We'd like the workers to buy it and run it as a co-operative, like the miners at the Tower pit in south Wales," said Mr Douglas.

"But these men are still owed wages and holiday pay."

Local councillors have agreed to join the campaign and meetings are planned with local MPs and the Energy Minister, Brian Wilson.

No alternative

The directors of the Hatfield colliery said they decided they had no alternative but to place the company into liquidation after advice from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Coal Authority.

A spokesman said they had lost the backing of a major funder.

"Unfortunately, negotiations broke down last week.

"It became clear that the finance required would not be available within a timescale which would enable the colliery to continue trading."

Eddie Dixon, one of the directors, told BBC News Online that management were unable to address the miners' demonstration as the company has not yet completed the process of going into receivership.

"We're always prepared to meet with a group of our workers but at this juncture in the legal process it would not be appropriate to address the men."