A project to remember Workington miners is still in the pipeline despite the latest funding bid being knocked back.

Workington Town Council submitted a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund earlier this year for cash to complete the second stage of the Jane Pit Memorial Project.

It would have seen work take place to stabilise and refresh buildings, as well as adding paths, trees, shrubs and seating.

The council has now learned its bid was unsuccessful and it must look again at how the project can take a step forward.

Town clerk Chris Bagshaw said: “We were disappointed to learn that the National Lottery Heritage Fund had not awarded us the money to restore the surface workings at Jane Pit as a lasting memorial to the mine working communities of Workington.

“We are awaiting detailed feedback from the fund before we sit down with councillors and partners to decide where the project should go next.”

Stage one was paid for with lottery funding and completed last year.

It involved detailed structural surveys, investigation work and a community archaeological dig.

Interpretation panels would also be installed in stage two with information about the history of the site, the miners who worked there and artefacts found during the dig.

An action plan was also submitted outlining the council’s proposals for community-based activities.

Councillor Herbert Briggs, vice-chairman of the council’s culture committee, said: “I come from a mining family and my dad was a miner so I understand that it is certainly an important project.

“As for looking for other funding, we have only just been notified of it being knocked back so it will be in the next meeting where we’ll debrief and decide what action we want to take.”