23-03-1973 A rescue crew waiting to make another attempt to free 7 miners trapped in the flooded Lofthouse colliery, West Yorkshire © Martin Mayer

21-03-1973 Exhausted members of a rescue team at Lofthouse colliery, West Yorkshire, give details of pregress in rescuing their fellow miners during the pit disaster that claimed 7 lives. © Martin Mayer

21-03-1973 Arthur Scargill speaks to the press a the Lofthouse colliery disaster, West Yorkshirein which 7 miners died © Martin Mayer

21-03-1973 Derek Ezra (later Lord), chairman of the National Coal Board at the Lofthouse pit disaster © Martin Mayer

22-03-1973 Digging a relief shaft during the Lofthouse colliery disaster in which 7 men died © Martin Mayer

22-03-1973 Miners at Lofthouse colliery installing a conveyor belt to help remove material from a relief shaft being bored to try to rescue trapped men during the pit disaster in which 7 died © Martin Mayer

23-03-1973 Miners at Lofthouse colliery, West Yorkshire, wait anxiously for word of those trapped underground during the disaster that claimed 7 lives. © Martin Mayer

23-03-1973 Underwater mines rescue crew in wetsuits set out on another attempt to free 7 miners trapped in the flooded Lofthouse colliery, West Yorkshire © Martin Mayer

23-03-1973 Exhausted miners rescue crew waiting to return down the pit to attempt a further rescue of trapped miners in the flooded Lofthouse colliery next to a poster advertising a union mass meeting about wage... © Martin Mayer

23-03-1973 Miners at Lofthouse colliery, West Yorkshire wait for word of their colleagues trapped underground. © Martin Mayer