Miners lose pit strike leader

PETER Heathfield, who was general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers during the year-long miners' strike of 1984-85, died yesterday at the age of 81.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th May 2010, 23:57 BST

Updated 5th May 2010, 00:01 BST

Mr Heathfield led the strike with NUM president Arthur Scargill, becoming a national figure as the bitter dispute over pit closures unfolded.

Paying tribute, Mr Scargill said: "The miners have lost an outstanding champion, a courageous fighter."

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Peter Heathfield was a thoroughly decent, principled trade unionist."

TUC