Snibston Colliery will be reopened next month with an exhibition and tours entitled A Miner's Story.

You will be able to follow in the footsteps of local coal miners with a tour of the historic Snibston Colliery and hear the stories from former miners about their life and work in coal mining.

The event takes place on Sunday, April 10, between 10.00am and 4.00pm.

The Snibston Heritage Trust, in collaboration with Leicestershire County Council, are reopening Snibston Colliery at Snibston Colliery Park to the public.

The day-long event of mining stories and histories will include displays by local heritage groups such as the Whitwick Historical Group, Whitwick Colliery Disaster Memorial Project, South Derbyshire Mining Preservation Group, Coalville Heritage Society, the A-Z of Local Miners and Chris Matchett's mining memorabilia display.

Visitors will also have a chance to talk to former miners about the machinery they used underground in the mine simulation display.

During the event, former miners will guide the public around the colliery surface buildings - it is not possible to go underground - and tell the story of how the pit operated during the 1970s and 1980s.

There will be five tours during the day and the first starts at 10.30am.

Each tour is around one hour long and will take in the lamp room, mine control room, medical centre, pit top and winding house.

Bryan Hallam, Colliery Guide and Trustee said: "The Trust is pleased to be working with Leicestershire County Council to enable people to walk around the colliery buildings as they are a rare survivor of the now gone coal mining industry.

"Snibston is a monument to that industry and the tours around the colliery buildings will bring the monument to life with stories about the work and life of miners who once worked in the local coal mines.

"Alongside the displays of mining heritage and other facilities in the Park it will be a splendid day out."

County Council Leader, Nick Rushton said: "This site proudly honours its mining heritage roots and I'm pleased that, in working with Snibston Heritage Trust, we will be able to give locals and visitors a rare opportunity to step back in time as they hear from former miners and experience the historic Snibston we all know and respect.

"The regeneration of the site always intended to make the park more attractive and secure long-term benefits for the area and it's fantastic to see tours like this helping the park honour its history as it continues to flourish for future generations to come."

The Park and exhibition are free. The colliery tours are £2.50 per adult; children and young people under 16 are free.

The money raised will support the Snibston Heritage Trust in the restoration of important and rare items of mining machinery, which are part of the mine simulation display.

To book a tour go to Eventbrite; each tour is limited to 20 people and children must be accompanied by an adult. If there are available places it will also be possible to book on the day.

The historic colliery is part of Snibston Colliery Park, a refurbishment of the Snibston site by Leicestershire County Council, which includes a children's adventure playground, nature rambles, cycling and mountain bike trail, and the Colliery Café.

The colliery is a rare survivor of a 1960s – 1980s coal mine, recognised as an historic monument by Historic England, who have listed and scheduled the pit tops and associated buildings.

For further information contact the Snibston Heritage Trust on 01530 833521 or email [email protected].