Retired pit pony ‘Pip’ died recently at the ripe old age of 35.

He worked 150 foot underground at Marley Colliery, Gateshead until it closed 30 years ago. The then five year old moved to Sacriston Colliery, Durham until it also closed in 1985.

After being retained for a further 12 months to help with salvage work Pip was then given to Beamish Open Air Museum where he lived and worked for 23 years until his death.

Jacki Winstanley of the Beamish Museum said that staff were upset by Pips death.

“We think he may have been the last surviving working pit pony in Britain”

In 1913 there were over 70,000 ponies working the mines in the UK. These figures dwindled to 55 by 1984.