It is reported that a West Midland coal mine is on track to record the highest annual output recorded in Britain.

UK Coal said that Daw Mill Colliery near Nuneaton recently produced its three millionth tonne of coal this year and is expected to better the 13 year record of 3.16million tonnes set by Wistow mine at Selby by the end of the year. All the coal produced at Daw Mill, which has only one face to work compared with Selby which has more miners and more faces is enough to meet the annual power needs of 2.27mllion homes in the West and East Midlands.

Daw Mill, which directly employs 680 people, is rated the most productive and technologically advanced mine in Europe. Most of its output goes by rail to Eon's Ratcliffe power station near Nottingham although some also goes to EDF's Cottam power station near Retford and Drax, near Selby.

As per report, UK Coal is exploring whether it is possible to exploit a further 40 million tonnes of coal in the so called Warwickshire Thick Seam and whether to reopen a mothballed mine at Harworth in north Nottinghamshire.