A 100ft high artwork of a miner adorns a beach famously washed over each day with millions of coal particles which once supplied the former colliery.

The giant bare-chested figure chiselling coal was carved into the sand at Cambois Beach in Northumberland.



Despite the nearby pit shutting in 1968, the village's industrial past is still evident by the black coal particles coating the shoreline.

The artwork was created by retired GP turned artist Claire Eason who spent hours painstakingly drawing the image with a rake at low-tide on Sunday (11/5).

She said: "Cambois beach has always intrigued me because of the industrial history of the area. "

"The coal particles in the sand are left by the tides and formed a coal seam for the miner to work on. "

"Nature and industry were interwoven as the community was when the pit was working and the community formed around it."

"It seemed only fitting that the 100ft miner should feature on the beach with the modern day industry and factories in the background."

After the pit closed the village declined with many residents and businesses moving away, with only retired coal miners refusing to leave.

Today the village, which sits on the north side of the estuary of the River Blyth, is once again attracting investment.

In March this year Northumberland County Council approved plans for a multi-billion pound data centre to be built in the area.

American digital giant QTS say the centre, which will be one of the biggest in the UK, could provide more almost 4,000 jobs.