Miners sign redundancy deal

Miners in the Midlands flocked to sign a redundancy deal before last night's deadline despite earlier union opposition. Under the package, British Coal is offering a one-off payment of pounds 6,000 and a redundancy payment of up to pounds 27,000 in the event of being laid off, in return for a pay freeze and an agreement on flexible working.

British Coal said that 83 per cent of miners in the Midlands and almost 80 per cent of officials had agreed to the deal.