Leeds in 1972 - The days of mile-long queues for concessionary coal

These two photos rewind back to January 1972 ahead of a national miners' strike.

The first shows a miner and his family collecting concessionary coal at Robin Hood Colliery at Rothwell.

Children helped their parents fill sacks as miners collected orders that were up to six weeks overdue as a result of an overtime ban. This was the last chance to pick up fuel before the strike began.

The second shows a miner at Old Charlesworth coke and coal depot at Robin Hood seen collecting concessionary coal in cars and trucks formed a queue over a mile long.

The 1972 UK miners' strike was a major dispute over pay between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Conservative Edward Heath government.

The strike began on January 9, 1972, and ended on February 28, 1972, when the miners returned to work.

The two photos are published courtesy West Yorkshire Archive Service, which collects and looks after the unique documentary heritage of the region dating from the 12th century to the present day - more than 800 years of local history. It also runs Catablogue, an online blog dedicated to preserving the past, serving the present and protecting the future.

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