A PHOTOGRAPHER who created an exhibition to portray the lives of ex-miners 25 years after the closure of Sutton Manor Colliery says he has been overwhelmed by the response it has received.

'When the Pit Closed' launched at the World of Glass in January and is due to close on Friday (March 18).

Created by Alan Smith, from Rainford and uses words, music and black and white photos to portray the impact the 1991 closure on 10 former miners and what has happened to them since.

"It has gone down really well and I think it has struck a chord with people with it being 25 years from when it closed," said Alan, 58.

"Reading the visitors' book it has been really touching, people with relatives who worked there saying it had brought it back to life for them and affected them personally.

"Even the younger people have whose grandads worked there.It has brought it home to them that the town had a mining heritage they might not have known about.

"Ex-miners have been meeting up and have said it's amazing. One miner even left his personal tally number which they were given after they signed up."

Alan added: "I'm really pleased it has gone down like that, I didn't expect the response it got but it's struck that chord with people and made them think about what the town has lost."

And one of the exhibits is even expected to make its way to Westminster, with St Helens North MP Conor McGinn, who attended the exhibition's opening, to have one of the pictures placed in his office.