About 40 miners are being made redundant in the closure

About 40 of the 120 workers have been made redundant at Wistow Colliery after UK Coal decided it was not worth recovering any more coal.

Another 40 miners will transfer to the nearby Riccall mine while the rest will remain to recover equipment.

Wistow opened in 1983 and set a European production record in 1995.

This pit was heralded as one of the nation's jewels in the crown not so long ago Ian Lavery, National Union of Mineworkers

UK Coal said in recent weeks the pit had suffered roof falls, in flows of water and geological problems.

Its poor geology was an "untimely reminder" of why the entire Selby complex is closing, a spokesman said.

Bill Tinsley, business manager at Selby, said: "It has been a difficult ending for Wistow, with mining conditions among the worst we have experienced.

"It is time to call it a day, and the men accept that."

'Scandalous' policy

At its height, Wistow employed 500 miners.

The president of the National Union of Mineworkers, Ian Lavery, said: "This pit was heralded as one of the nation's jewels in the crown not so long ago.

"It is scandalous that a Labour government is looking towards a future energy policy based on imported energy."

UK Coal announced in 2002 that the Selby complex was to close.

Wistow is the third of the five mines to shut with the remaining two due to end production by August.