a fall of stone on one of the work areas killed 5 miners. They were: Joseph Welsh, 46 George W. Scott, 39 William Richardson, 50 William Smith, 40 John William Britton, 47 Decline and eradication of mining As a result of the exhaustion of thick coal seams, only 1,500 tons of best quality coal was being produced a week in 1979. The last coal production was on 15 November 1985 and the colliery closed on 28 December 1985. As in many mining areas, the loss of the 'pit' led to significant unemployment and related social problems. Sacriston narrowly avoided D classification in 1985 due to social deprivation and general poor quality of housing. Little evidence of the mining operations now remains, with the area around the former coal mine having been landscaped and turned into woodland. A few mining-related buildings do survive, the largest of which is now used as a depot for the local authority's refuse vehicles, while the foundations of demolished mine buildings can be seen in places in the new woodland. Sacriston Wood is now a local nature reserve. Governance An electoral ward in the same name exists. The total population of this ward taken at the 2011 census was 6,613. Life in Sacriston today More than 25 years after the closure of its last coal mine, the village retains a strong sense of community. Recently, a new community centre has opened, and the village has started to shake off its coal mining past. The village has a travel agent and a Post Office along with a large number of shops for a village of its size, including a Tesco Express, two other mini-marts, a greengrocer, newsagent, barber shop, off-licence many takeaway shops and others. There are also a two social clubs and similar organisations including Sacriston Working Mens Club and a Roman Catholic (now closed), cricket club and one remaining public house, 'Crossroads Inn'. The other pubs, 'The Village Inn', 'The Daisy Hill', 'The George and Dragon' and 'The Robin Hood', are now closed. Education The village has two schools, one of which is a Roman Catholic primary school, and the other is Sacriston Academy. Sacriston Academy opened on 1 September 2014 when, after a public consultation, the junior school closed and the infant school extended their age range and changed their name to Sacriston Academy. The village used to have a secondary school, Fyndoune Community