Campaigners fight plans to build school on site of Six Bells mining disaster

People living in Abertillery are furious over plans to build a school on the site where 45 miners were killed in an underground explosion.

Education chiefs want to open a new primary school at the site of the Six Bells disaster.

It's currently home to a giant memorial.

Alexandra Lodge has been to meet campaigners. Watch her report below:

Wendy Partridge says visiting Guardian allows her to remember her relatives in peace.

However, she fears it'll all change if approved plans to build a school go ahead.

An underground explosion in June 1960 killed 45 pitmen, who are now commemorated at the Six Bells site by a steel statue of a miner called Guardian.

Six Bells Colliery at the time of the disaster

More than 2,000 local residents have signed a petition to oppose the building of the primary school, fearing that its planned position next to the statue will restrict public access.

Blaenau Gwent council says it fully respects the significance of the memorial, and that the final design of the school will be sympathetic to the local environment.

People living in Six Bells say the Guardian guards the community.

Now the community want to guard him...