Compelling statue stops traffic : New 'miner' appears at the top of Radstock

There is a new sign alongside the Welcome to Radstock sign as you head down into town from Peasedown and it is being widely admired as a great tribute to the town's mining heritage.

This miner has arrived as part of several metal sculptures to celebrate the town's history as part of the Somerset Coalfield.

One social post said: " It's great that the mining heritage is being kept alive here, there's a lot more effort goes into this in Somerset than other parts of the country."

There has even been commenting that because the statue is so dramatic, it may encourage motorists to slow down on this stretch of 40 mph road.

The statue is even more dramatic because of its placing - really standing out as you drive out of the end of Peasedown straight to Radstock.

If you are interested in the mining history of the coalfields, which once supported over 4,000 miners, there is a free talk tomorrow (Tuesday April 18) at the Radstock Museum about the part women worked in the fields. Details HERE

The museum itself is always worth a visit too. It is housed in the Grade II listed Victorian market hall, and includes reconstructions of a Victorian shop, a miner's cottage as well as a school room