AN ANNUAL remembrance ceremony was held at the weekend for one of the darkest days in New Cumnock's history.

The ceremony was held to mark the 74th anniversary of the Knockshinnoch colliery disaster that devastated the local community.

READ MORE: BBC archive footage shows interview from Knockshinnoch Colliery in 1967

Thirteen miners died after becoming trapped underground at the Knockshinnoch Castle Colliery in New Cumnock on September 7, 1950.

Initially, hundreds of men were trapped, but rescue teams battled for several days to save as many men as they could.

Every year, local groups and representatives gather at the Knockshinnoch memorial site to remember those that sadly died.

This year, one of the survivors from that day, Andrew McDickens, attended to lay a wreath.

WATCH: Dramatic TV footage of the Knockshinnoch disaster 70 years on

Reverend Ken Yorke once again conducted the service which was well attended by the public and local councillors and dignitaries. 

The disaster was reported worldwide when 129 miners were buried half-a-mile underground for almost three days after a waterlogged farm field near the colliery collapsed into the pit’s workings.