UK Coal is appealing for government support to stave off a collapse that would cost 2,000 jobs. The largest coal miner in Britain was rescued last year by the Pension Protection Fund , which preserves the pensions of employees whose companies go bust. But it is on the brink of insolvency again. Hargreaves Services , the only other domestic large scale miner , is also in talks to invest in the business, according to people familiar with the situation. Its proposal to buy UK Coal for £20m was rejected by administrators last year in favour of the PPF rescue. Hargreaves could not be reached for comment. In case that bid fails, UK Coal is asking for £10m of government funding to close two of the past three deep pits in Britain and sell off its surface mines. The business, which is burning cash reserves because of the low […]