New mining statue unveiled in Seaton Delaval

By Kris Jepson

A new statue to honour the mining heritage of Northumberland has been unveiled in Seaton Delaval.

Carved from a white willow tree, local artist Tom Newstead was commissioned by Seaton Valley Community Council to create the sculpture.

Watch @krisjepson's report here:

The sculpture illustrates two miners, along with lamps, cats and canaries.

Tom Newstead is the son of a miner and travelled the world as a Merchant Navy assistant carpenter.

His artwork is culturally eclectic, taking inspiration from a diverse range of cultures and countries he visited when travelling the world.

He lived in America, Africa, Costa Rica, Bermuda, and India. He said each new continent, land and city brought with it a new perspective within which he saw different art forms which he would later work with and manipulate into a style that he now uniquely stamps as his own.

Tom said he was taught his craft by a "truly remarkable" tradesman when he was an apprentice boat builder at Lambies, Northumberland.

Blyth Valley MP, Ronnie Campbell, cut the ribbon to unveil the art piece, entitled The Tambourine Man.