The new chairman of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called for the re-nationalisation of the coal industry.

Ian Lavery, from Northumberland, is due to take over the role on Thursday, when Arthur Scargill retires as president after more than 20 years.

Mr Lavery, a 39-year-old miner, said his proposal was a "rational" one.

As former-NUM branch secretary at Ellington pit, Mr Lavery was credited with persuading the owner UK Coal to keep the deep mine open two years ago.

Cheap coal

He wants Britain's remaining pits taken out of private hands and put back into public ownership.

He told BBC Newcastle: "If we have got coal beneath our feet, why not employ people to extract that coal.

"We have got the modern day technology, we've got the reserves, we've got the people, we produce it cheaply.

"Why not renationalise the industry... security of supply well into this millennium. It's rational."

Government ministers

"We produce the cheapest coal in Europe, yet we are allowing private companies to close mines because they are not prepared to invest."

Mr Lavery, a Labour Party member, said he was prepared to meet government ministers and pit owners to discuss the industry's future.

He aims to get the process of compensation payments for sick miners speeded up and to ensure mines are kept open seven days a week.