Coal not Dole: The story of the women's fight for the mines

Mr Arthur Scargill (right) and his then wife Anne (third left), at a national women's demonstration against pit closures in Barnsley. Credit: PA Archive /PA Archive/Press Association Images

Thirty years ago, while our region's miners were heading out on strike, thousands of women from mining communities - were preparing their own fight. Campaign group, Women Against Pit Closures arguably fought as hard for the future of the mines as the trade unions did. They are widely credited with keeping the strike going for as long as it did.

Now a new exhibition looks back at the miners' wives and daughters - and their campaign to keep the coalfields alive. Michael Billington reports.

Actress Maxine Peake was inspired by the women involved in the mines campaign. She wrote and starred in a radio play, "Queens of the Coal Age". She's been speaking to our reporter, Matt Price.