Churches And Rugby Stars Mark Mine Deaths

Prayers have been said in churches across Wales for four men killed in a mining tragedy - as the nation's rugby team dedicates a win to the families.

Dozens of people gathered at St John the Evangelist in Cilybebyll, South Wales, the church closest to where the disaster happened.

The Rev Martyn Perry said: "The tragedy strikes a deep chord with people here who have many decades of history in the mining industry.

"This is what people always fear. We can draw strength from each other at such a sad time. It is still hard to believe that this has happened."

Meanwhile in New Zealand, the Wales rugby team members wore black armbands for their match against Samoa.

After beating the Samoans 17-10, Captain Sam Warburton dedicated the win to the families of the four miners.

"We said if we lose the chances are we're probably going home so there was a lot of pressure on the boys and I would like to dedicate the win today to the families of the miners back home," he said.

"Our thoughts are with them."

On Sunday morning the daughter of one of the men paid a moving tribute to her father, saying: "I love and miss you forever".

Phillip Hill's daughter Kyla left a bouquet of flowers with card containing a poignant message close to the Gleision colliery where the bodies of her father and three fellow miners were found after they became overwhelmed by water.

The other men who died were David Powell, 50, Charles Breslin, 62, and 39-year-old Garry Jenkins.

An appeal fund set up to help the families of the miners raised more than £20,000 in the first day.

Members of the fire service who worked 'heroically' at the mine have been raising money for minersappealfund.org by washing cars.

Set up by Peter Hain MP, the Labour member for Neath, the emergency fund now has Royal support.

Mr Hain tweeted: "I am pleased that the Prince of Wales has agreed to be the royal patron of the Swansea Valley Miners Appeal Fund."

Messages of sympathy have reached South Wales from all over the world and a minute's silence was held at Swansea City football club before yesterday's game against West Bromwich.

Experts continue their investigation into the circumstances promising that any lessons learned from the tragedy would be put into effect.

The alarm was raised early on Thursday morning after the shaft flooded, trapping the men.

It had been hoped that the miners - originally part of a group of seven - might have found refuge in an air pocket following the accident.

But the bad news came through gradually on Friday, with police announcing at 6pm that the body of the last of the four had been found.

Fire and rescue and ambulance workers said they had never seen or worked in such conditions before.

The men's bodies were found close together, one on the exit side of the blockage and the other three in the area where they had been working.