On December 21, 1910 344 local men and boys were killed in an underground explosion at the Hulton Colliery on the Atherton Bolton boundary.

It was the third highest death toll in coal mining history.

The Over Hulton Community Group in conjunction with mining historian Alan Davies run a regular event providing a detailed insight into the tragedy.

The next Pretoria Ruins Lecture Tour will take place on Saturday (April 22) at 10am.

Mr Davies gives a full and detailed account from cause to event to aftermath.

The assembly point is the Pretoria Memorial on Broadway off Newbrook Road, M46 9HW.

From there it is a short walk to the site where it actually happened with the ruins still clearly visible.The distance is less than a mile and the duration is two hours. Attendance is £4 for adults, under 14s £3. Places must be booked by ringing 01942 874719 or email j.bullen1@ntlworld.com