THE country's biggest coal producer lost more than £83 million last year - and most of it was down to the Selby pit complex.

UK Coal's annual results, published today, reveal that Selby lost £27 million last year - bringing its losses over the last four years to £120 million.

In addition to the £27 million losses, the company also had to pick up a £30 million tab for redundancy costs after it announced the Selby complex was closing. There was also a £9.7 million write-off for equipment unlikely to be used again once the complex closes.

Updated: 11:29 Thursday, March 06, 2003