So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu!

This is Daw Mill Colliery in North Warwickshire. It was the last working coal mine in Warwickshire. I say was as it has just been closed by UK Coal following the outbreak of a severe fire underground last month. The fire broke out about 500 metres (1,600 ft) down, and it has been described as the worst underground blaze in Britain for 30 years. A skeleton staff has been retained at the pit to try and bring the fire under control, all the other staff have now been made redundant. The end of an era of mining in the West Midlands.