Photos show Battle of Orgreave clash as inquiry into bloodiest episode of miners' strike launched

On June 18, 1984, thousands of striking miners and police officers clashed outside the former Orgreave coking plant between Handsworth and Catcliffe in Rotherham.

It became one of the bloodiest episodes of the year-long miners’ strikes that rocked pit villages across the region.

In the 40 years since, campaigners have called for information about how the violence of that day erupted and what procedures police followed.

Now, an official inquiry has finally launched, with campaigners set to get answers after four decades.

Photos from our archive show the unfolding events of that fateful day.