New future for disused mine

The former mine is at the head of the remote Coledale Valley

A disused lead mine in the north Lakes is going to be opened as a visitor attraction.

The Force Crag site on the outskirts of Braithwaite, near Keswick, closed in 1991 after 500 years of mining.

The National Trust is spending £50,000 on making it safe for guided tours.

The disused mine has also been officially declared an "ancient monument" by English Heritage.

Force Crag Mine occupies a spectacular location at the head of the remote Coledale Valley.

Miners' stories

The site was mined for lead from 1839 until 1865, and for zinc and barytes from 1867, by a number of different companies.

Penny Webb from the National Trust said former miners will be asked for advice about the tours.

She said: "One of the miners worked here in the 1943-44 period and the other miners worked here during the latter part of the history of the site.

"We are going to be asking them their stories and use those as part of the interpretation of the site."