In 1993, the last pits of the old Durham coalfield disappeared, with 650 jobs lost on Wearside.

When Muriel Tulley took redundancy from the pit's wages office, she was the longest serving woman on the payroll, with 35 years service.

She has organising the reunion so former workers can tell each other what has happened to them over the last decade.

'Real regeneration'

She said: "As you get older a lot of us live on our memories. There was a special bond among those who worked there.

"There was definitely a strong friendship among the coal community, it was something special.

"Sunderland has taken off since then when you see the riverside there is real regeneration.

"But the pit was my time, I was glad I worked there, and look forward to the get together."

Ms Tulley worked at the mine from 1957 to 1992.

The Stadium of Light football stadium is based on the former colliery site, named after the former miners' lamps.

The Wearmouth Colliery reunion will be on 25 March at Mill View Club in Fulwell, Sunderland.