The continuing success of the popular Snibston Colliery tour returns this weekend.

Visitors will have a chance to meet, not only a NCB miner in his mining overalls and equipment, but also the colliery Nurse, Sister Jenny, who brings the colliery medical centre to life with the stories of miners' accidents and medical conditions.

On two weekends each month, until December, former miners from the area take the public around the colliery surface buildings and tell the visitors what it was like to work in the pits during the 1970s and 80s.

Each tour day will allow the visitor to book onto either a 11.00 tour or a 13.30 tour.

The tour - which is back this Saturday (April 12) - takes around 90 minutes and the public can see how a coalmine in mid-20th century operated with access given to some places even the coalminer was not allowed.

Most areas are accessible to people with mobility difficulties, although there are a small number of steps and the site is fully paved, however, comfortable shoes are recommended.

The tours also bring to life historic characters from Snibston history. Miss Lizzie and Master Tom, the wife and son of a Deputy, who live in Coalville's Deputies Row and who worked at the pit when it was first sunk in 1835 and Mr Joseph Sandars, who owned the pit with the world-famous George Stephenson.

They will tell their story of how the pit started and what it was like to work there in the harsh days of Victorian coalmining.

Steve Brotherhood, Trustee with the Snibston Heritage Trust and colliery guide welcomes everyone to experience his working life and said: "It's an honour to keep Snibston Colliery alive.

"Although I left the pit over 30 years ago, it is still in my blood and DNA. It's a pleasure to share my stories, which are both humorous, and at times, hard with people who have never seen a coalmine as well as retired miners, who bring their children or grandchildren to see what they did before the mines closed.

"I've shown the mine to people from around the country as well as families who have moved into the area, they see the two tall headstock towers and wonder what they did.

"Many residents in Coalville area are also surprised to find what is behind the building on Ashby Road and once inside often say 'Well, I didn't know this was here'!"

As it is not possible to go underground at Snibston the Snibston Heritage Trust has created 'Into the Dark' a mine simulation which gives the visitors a chance to experience what it was like underground at the coalface

The tours cost £7.00 per adult, but are free for children under 14 and tickets can be booked via Eventbrite: A Coal Miner's Story or manually via 01530 833521.

All tours start and finish at Grounds Café, which is next to the children's adventure playground which is free to everyone.

Snibston is only one of five collieries in the UK that is almost complete, which is why Historic England has designated the site as a Schedule Monument.

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