AROUND 4,000 tickets have been sold for this year's Benarty Gala. 

The much-loved community event is set to take place on Sunday, June 30 at Lochore Meadows and will see the usual gala favourites return but with an extra special twist. 

This year, to commemorate the miners strike of 1984-85 and honour the Benarty Six - who were fired from and blacklisted from their jobs in the pits -the gala has a coal theme. 

Kevin Payne, of the Benarty Events Group (BEG), told the Times: "It’s the 40th anniversary of the miner's strike.

"We’ve got the Benarty six, they’ll be marching. They were the six sacked miners who never got their jobs back. They were blacklisted and couldn't get another job.  

"They’ll be leading it with the Lochgelly pipe band and the schools and youth clubs are all getting dressed up in a miners theme and we’ve got a brass band, a steel drum band too.  

"It’s why Benarty was built wasn't it, through the miners, the Glencraig pit and the Mary pit."

READ MORE: March with the Miners took place in Benarty on Saturday

In addition to the mining festivities, there will be lots of entertainment.

He continued: "We’ve got fairground rides, big climbing frames, children's races which are very popular, fitness challenges so you can test your fitness and we’ve got lots of stalls. "

Kevin and the BEG are encouraging people to come along and enjoy the community event. They are also encouraging people to walk to the 'Meedies' or to use public transport due to limited parking space. 

READ MORE: Lochore Meadows to welcome Benarty Gala fun this Summer

He added: "Hopefully the weather's good and everyone loves to see the full colour of the parade, the children's races and meeting old and new friends.  

"We have people who used to live in the Benarty area and they always say ‘Oh I've met such and such, I've not seen them for years’. There’s every generation there."

Tickets are still available for purchase and cost just £3, one ticket includes a gala box, a drink and a wristband for the rides.

Tickets are only available until Tuesday, June 25 but wristbands will be available to buy on the day for £7.