A memorial plaque has been unveiled in east Belfast to the eight shipyard workers who died during the construction of the Titanic.

It was unveiled by First Minister Peter Robinson outside the clubrooms of Harland & Wolff Welders.

Club treasurer John Davidson said: "We're all proud of our history and our traditions. As people drive past (the plaque), walk past it, they'll be able to see and remember that there was eight people died in the construction of the Titanic."

The first person to die during the Titanic’s construction, fifteen-year-old Samuel Joseph Scott, lay in an unmarked grave in Belfast’s City Cemetery for decades before a ceremony was held to mark his grave.

Samuel died on April 20 1910 after falling and hitting his head during his everyday work in a rivet squad.

Another man who died, James Dobbins, met his end on the day the ship was launched from her slipway at Queen's Island in front of 100,000 cheering spectators.

His job was to kick the timbers holding the hull in place out of the way, but he was crushed as they fell and died later in hospital.

The death toll of eight was considered low at the time, as up to 15 deaths had been anticipated for the three-year, £15,000 project, where men worked at heights with a lack of safety equipment.

The new plaque reads: "This plaque is to commemorate the eight brave men who lost their lives during the construction of the R.M.S Titanic."

(NE)