RELATIVES of two Forest miners killed in Britain's worst underground disaster are being sought.

John Maddocks and his son Thomas were among 439 miners killed in the Universal colliery disaster at Senghenydd near Caerphilly in 1913.

A new memorial to mark the centenary of the devastating underground explosion is planned.

The two Forest miners were lodging at 8 Woodland Terrace, Senghenydd with the grandparents of Mr Kenneth Clarke.

He said: "My father told me about John and Thomas Maddocks who were lodging with my grandparents in Woodland Terrace.

"He said they were from the Forest of Dean but I don't know exactly where in the Forest of Dean.

"John was 42-years-old and his son Thomas was 16."

A wall of tiles with the miners' names is planned as part of the memorial and people are being given the opportunity to buy a tile.

Mr Clarke, of Llanon, Ceredigion said his family had bought a tile in memory of Thomas.

He said: "Each family is only allowed to buy one tile and we've bought one for Thomas as my cousin bought one for our grandfather.

"There may be relatives in the Forest of Dean who would like to buy a tile for John."

People who are interested can contact the memorial organisers at Senghenydd community centre on 029 2083 0444 or Mr Clarke, 8 Cylch Peris, Llanon SY23 5HN or 01974 202584.

The Universal colliery disaster happened on October 14 1913 and was caused by a methane explosion which ignited clouds of coal dust creating lethal quantities of poisonous carbon monoxide.