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The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Bus today embarks on a special journey around the East Midlands. It is stopping off in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to celebrate the history of coal mining in the region.

People are invited on board the bus to share their memories to help build an archive of photos and stories from the miners' strike of 1984, whose 25th anniversary is being remembered by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.

News features on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Nottingham, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Derby and µþµþ°äÌý¸é²¹»å¾±´ÇÌý³¢±ð¾±³¦±ð²õ³Ù±ð°ù will complement ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ East Midlands Today's coverage of the anniversary.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Bus staff are looking for photos of the pits and images of ordinary life in mining communities. The archive will show what life was like for those working in the pits and how the strike affected the families of the miners.

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ will return photos to their owners immediately after scanning them on board the touring bus. Organisers will also take photographs of the other memorabilia people bring along.

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Dimple Patel, who organised the tour, says: "We're really looking forward to hearing as many different stories as possible to help us capture what life was like for those who lived, worked and grew up in local mining districts. We're ready to welcome everyone involved and look forward to seeing their photos and chatting to them about their mining memories."

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Bus is stopping off at:

Radio Nottingham area: Hucknall Market, 10.00am-12noon, Wednesday 28 January; Newstead Miners' Welfare Community Centre, 2.00-4.00pm, Wednesday 28 January; Mansfield Market, 10.00am-12noon, Thursday 29 January; Ollerton, Tesco car park, 2.00-4.00pm, Thursday 29 January.

Radio Leicester area: Bridge Road Car Park, near Belvoir shopping centre, Coalville, 10.00am-3.00pm, Thursday 5 and Friday 6 February.

Radio Derby area: The Arena area of New Square, Chesterfield town centre, 11.00am-3.00pm, Tuesday 3 February; Derby Market Place, 11.00am-3.00pm, Saturday 7 February.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Birmingham Press Office