Chief reporter Jack Tolson delves into the Chronicle Archives from December 1990.

500 JOB LOSSES AT HOUGHTON MAIN COLLIERY

MORE than half the work force is to go at the 860-man Houghton Main Colliery.

The pit has lost £15m since April and the union say the decision by British Coal to cut the workforce is a ‘last chance’ for the pit to avoid closure.

The 500 jobs losses were announced at a meeting between officials and the unions last Friday.

NUM branch secretary Barry Hyde said: “With a cut of this size, we are in effect being told that this is a last chance for us to make profit and survive.”

Melvin Gillespie, of the British Association of Colliery Management, added: “We accept the survival plan put forward by British Coal last Friday.”

British Coal also proposes closing three coal faces at the pit and concentrating on the Fenton seam.

Bob Siddall, BC’s North Yorkshire director, said workers who wanted to stay in the industry would be offered jobs elsewhere in the North Yorkshire area.

Mr Hyde added: “The pit has been plagued by geological problems and these have led to the horrific financial results.

“However, we have reluctantly accepted the survival plan and we are confident that what we will now mine, will make us profitable.

“We then hope to be able to talk about going into other seams and taking on more men again.”

TURTLE POWER WINS ROAD RACE

THEY get everywhere those turtles you know - which turtles?

Those Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles are not content with fighting crime in New York, now they’ve managed to win the Hoyland Challenge Team event.

The challenge, a fun road race, is a three-mile race around Hoyland, and the turtles - alias Penistone Police team - managed to compete it in double quick time.

Glen Booth, Daniel Marshall, Kay Pearson and Glen Herrod got round the course, which includes a gruelling uphill struggle for a quarter of a mile in extra quick time to come out as the team winners.

All money raised from sponsors of entrants will go towards the Mayor of Barnsley’s charity fund.

PUPPIES ABANDONED

HOW often do pleas go out for thought-to-be given up animals at Christmas?

A heartless person last week left two puppies facing death in a cardboard box between Brierley and South Hiendley no doubt hoping that someone would find them.

A good Samaritan did, in the form of Keith Ellis, of Royston, who was on his way home from work in Nottingham.

Keith took them home to his family - wife Pauline and children Kelly and Sam.

As one of them was nearly dead, they immediately took them to the veterinary surgeon who examined them free of charge.

The two-six week old Jack Russell mongrel bitches are now fine and the family are prepared to keep them until new homes have been found.