The president of the Durham Miners Association said there's "categorically no chance" he would invite Tory MPs to its showpiece Gala.

Alan Mardghum echoed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's broken Brexit pledge, saying: "I would rather be found dead in a ditch than invite them, or Johnson, to the gala."

The gala is a celebration of the North-east's mining history and its unions, and welcomes Labour MPs and left wing speakers.

But after a surge in Tory support and a swathe of new MPs in the North-east, Mr Mardghum told the BBC that those Conservatives planning to attend should contact the police first - which has angered Teesside MP Simon Clarke.

Mr Mardghum said it was "free country" and that he "couldn't stop" Tories coming into Durham, but continued: “Why would we invite Tories to the Durham Miners Gala? They did their best to absolutely destroy the Durham miners and the miners of Great Britain.

"I would suggest that if any of them (Tories) were thinking of coming in they spoke to the police, who do an absolutely marvellous job ensuring our personal safety to make sure they are safe on the day.”

Bishop Auckland Tory MP Dehenna Davison has pledged to go along to the event in July, while Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland's Simon Clarke said many within Labour "misunderstand just how unpleasant this kind of idiocy looks to the wider public".

Simon Clarke takes Middlesbrough South.

Mr Clarke, who represents more miners than any other MP in the North-east as the Boulby mine falls in his constituency, said it "would be nice" for Tory MPs to receive an invitation.

"I certainly think that even if an invitation is not extended, comments which suggest the gala could not guarantee the safety of a visiting MP are very worrying," said Mr Clarke, who increased a slim 2017 majority to one of more than 11,000 in December.

"What kind of message does it send out? It's promoting a culture of anger and hate that we have had too much of in British politics, especially in the past three years.

"It's not helpful to see a senior figure from the gala saying this."

Mr Clarke said it is up to the new North-east Tory MPs and his Government to now show the Tories "is the true workers' party" and live up to its election pledges.

"I think the last election proved that people in the North-east think the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn is not speaking to people here any more," continued Mr Clarke.

"And this sort of gratuitous nastiness sends a clear message to say 'we are not listening to the North-east' either."

Former MSEC Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop, an outspoken critic of the Corbyn leadership, said on Twitter: "Is he (Mr Mardghum) gonna ban the people carrying the banners?

"Playing in the brass bands? Pulling the pints? Serving the food? Attending with their kids?

"(Because) those people did vote Tory.

"They don’t attend for the hard-left totalitarian rants they get from the stage. It's their day out."