Eight others were seriously injured when a fireball shot 200 yards(183m) along a tunnel, which was 1,800ft (549m) underground.

The injured were taken to local hospitals in the area with serious burns and lung injuries.

It is believed the blast was caused when a build-up of methane gas caught light but it is not clear what caused the gas to ignite.

'Terrible tragedy'

Another 100 men working at the pit at the time of the explosion, which occurred at about 1130 hours today, were taken to safety.

Many joined the rescue efforts. One of them, Frank Gormley, son of the president of the National Union of Miners (NUM), Joe Gormley, drove a train to the seam face to help carry the dead and injured out of the mine.

Arrangements were being made to transport the injured, some of whom had burns on 90% of their bodies, from local hospitals to the burns unit at Withington hospital in Manchester.

Ambulance workers at Hindley and Wigan broke their strike to take the injured to hospitals.

Following the explosion, Energy Secretary, Tony Benn, MP, visited the scene with the local Labour MP, John Evans.

He said: "It is the most terrible tragedy

"I have come to express sympathy with the families. The human cost of coal is still a very high cost and we must never take it for granted."

Golborne colliery has one of the best safety records in the industry.

But methane is a gas which occurs naturally underground and is feared by miners. The victims in this case were all carrying methane-detecting equipment.

Julian Griffiths, deputy director of the National Coal Board's western area, said: "The men were equipped with methanometers and safety lamps.

"Three electricians were reconnecting an electrical supply. The others were believed to be transporting ventilation plant and other equipment.

"Work has been going on developing that section for two years."

The dead were named as John McKenna, 37, from Bryn near Wigan, Colin Dallimore, 29, from Wigan and Joe Berry, 41, from Leigh.

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