The UK coal industry has collapsed in the past 20 years

The miners' strike, which began at Cortonwood Colliery, South Yorkshire, on 5 March 1984, will be remembered in a series of events across the UK.

The dispute, which revolved around pit closures, lasted a year and saw violent clashes on the picket lines.

Two men died, 200 were locked up, and almost a thousand were sacked as the dispute split communities.

Critics claim the legacy of the dispute are former mining areas suffering with serious social deprivation and poverty.

The 1984 strike rapidly escalated as workers clashed with Margaret Thatcher's government in a row over pit closures.

'Bloodiest battlegrounds'

Around 8,000 police officers were drafted into Nottinghamshire, the county which became one of the bloodiest battlegrounds, as some miners continued to work in protest at the lack of a national strike ballot.

There has been a huge increase in crime, social deprivation and drug abuse in many coalfield areas Ian Lavery NUM president

The industry has collapsed in the past 20 years.

Today, there are no deep pits in Scotland, only one in Wales and a just handful in Yorkshire, once the heartland of the UK coalfield.

National Union of Miners president Ian Lavery, who is still campaigning against pit closures and job losses, said: "We have witnessed nothing less than the destruction and decimation of mining communities which have suffered greatly.

"There is a complete lack of employment in many areas.

He added: "There has been a huge increase in crime, social deprivation and drug abuse in many coalfield areas.

"The industry has been butchered and we have next to nothing left.

"The destruction of the coal industry should never be under-estimated."

Events over the coming weeks will include a "day of celebration" organised by the North Staffs Miners Wives Action Group, a rally in South Yorkshire and a gala in Barnsley.