Attention: news, business and social affairs correspondents LONDON, January 11 - Unite the union members at Britain's biggest mine have today (11th January) vowed to continue battling into work in icy conditions above ground and work in Saharan temperatures underneath to produce salt to keep Britain moving through the big freeze.

ESSEN, Germany, January 10 - The Ruhr is the European Capital of Culture 2010. The cultural capital year was officially kicked off yesterday at the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site Zeche Zollverein, the region's main landmark, by German President Horst Köhler with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and other political heavyweights in attendance. More than 100,000 Ruhr residents braved icy temperatures to celebrate the grand opening until the early morning hours.

LONDON, January 10 - As UK schools and colleges feel the financial pinch, Education Marketing PR and Associates (EMPRA) has announced a brand new, budget PR service for schools and further education colleges.