A NEW image which features a miner guide from Gwent’s own Big Pit was unveiled at a Downing Street reception hosted by the Prime Minister last night.

The image was released to celebrate 20 years of the National Lottery and depicts more than 50 projects which have benefitted from the £32 million of funds raised by the lottery.

Big Pit National Coal Museum was chosen to feature on the Celebrating 20 Years image after it received £5,278,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The lottery funding project, beginning in 2000, meant the buildings at the museum were repaired, public access to the underground workings was made safe and exhibition areas were developed.

The image features 150 people from projects which have benefited from the 450,000 grants awarded by the National Lottery over the last 20 years.

Keeper at Big Pit National Coal Museum, Peter Walker, said: “We were delighted to be asked to feature in The National Lottery’s image to mark 20 years of Lottery funding. Their funding has been vital to the success of Big Pit.”

The image was shot over the course of one week by the photographer Christian Sinibaldi.

l Did you spot the guide? He's at the right hand side of the image.