Members of the National Union of Mineworkers are to tell MPs that the Selby mines in North Yorkshire need not be closed.

The NUM has commissioned a report from economist Gordon McKerron from National Economic Research Associates.

The content of the document is not being made public until a meeting at the House of Commons on Tuesday between NUM officials and coalfield MPs.

But it is expected to say that there are options to closing the Selby mines.

Cease production

The NUM has always argued that there are untapped reserves in the coalfield and it should be kept open.

Selby is earmarked for closure in 2004 but may be shut four months earlier than expected, coal bosses have admitted.

Miners at Wistow, one of four in the Selby complex, have been told it could cease production in November or December.

But a spokesman for UK Coal said the company was looking at ways of keeping the pit running until 2004.

More than 1,500 miners are employed at the Selby complex which consists of Wistow, Stillingfleet, Riccall, and Gascoigne Wood.