Thousands of gallons of water flooded the mine's workings.

Ellington Colliery, in Northumberland, closed earlier this year with the loss of more than 300 jobs after thousands of gallons of water flooded into it.

The Ellington National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) commissioned the figurines from former miner James Tuck.

One depicts a miner from the early days of mining in Northumberland and another shows a modern miner.

Each of the limited number of figures crafted from Ellington coal has its own numbered certificate and they are being sold for £25.

NUM chairman Ian Lavery said: "There are many fine examples of coal figures on sale commercially.

"What makes these figurines so special, however, is that they are made from one of the very last tonnes of coal mined from Ellington Colliery before it closed on 26 January 2005.

"We thought long and hard about how to mark what was the end of an era in a unique and lasting way before deciding to commission the figurines.

"Only a limited number have been made and there will be no more after this stock of coal runs out, so they will have a unique value to them."