Residents in Widdrington Station claim they are also constantly having to put up with air pollution.

The protest was held outside County Hall in Morpeth on Friday by members of Residents Opposed to Open-Cast Mining (Room).

It was planned to coincide with a meeting between the mine operators, UK Coal, and members of Northumberland County Council's environmental services.

Understand concerns

UK Coal opened its open cast mine on the edge of Widdrington Station in 1988 and it is due to close in four years time.

Dr Ruth White, of Room, said: "I think residents are becoming particularly angry because we are subject to piecemeal after piecemeal applications to extend this site.

"It has certainly become more intrusive and noisier recently as the site actually moves closer to the residents."

UK Coal said they understood the concerns of local people but said the pit was already there when many residents' moved into the village and would have been aware of its presence.

Safe parameters

Dr White added: "It becomes intolerable when the site is moving closer to the local population.

"We are getting extension after extension and, although the site is supposed to be wound down in June of this year, there is every possibility there will be another application to extend.

"We need the life of this mine to be ended as it was originally promised to us, but UK Coal need to work within the safe parameters that were agreed."