A deal at Welbeck Colliery helped protect 520 jobs

John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw, which has two mines in the constituency - Harworth and Welbeck, will meet officials at the European Commission.

Topics will include investment in cleaner technology and changes to government subsidies.

"The British coal industry and specifically the mining industry in my area does have a future," said Mr Mann.

The delegation of local miners was heading to Brussels on Tuesday.

'Sustainable future'

Mr Mann said: "The contribution that wind power can make to the UK's energy grid will always be limited, and there is at least a 10 year lead in time if we decide to build more nuclear power stations.

"Whichever way we look at it, we will need coal for at least the next two decades.

"With investment in clean coal technology the coal industry can have a sustainable future."

Welbeck Colliery, near Ollerton, had been earmarked for closure before miners agreed to new working practices.

It was revealed in July that production is to end at Harworth Colliery, on the Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire border, though work is continuing on one seam.