Building work could begin on a Cumbrian mine within six months.

The long-awaited decision on whether mining could be brought back to Copeland could be made in four months.

West Cumbria Mining (WCM) lodged a planning application with the county council recently (MAY 31) for the project, which has seen more than 1,600 people expressing an interest in working there.

It will take about 16 weeks for the council to make a decision on the application and, if given the go-ahead, building work could begin six months later.

The plan was first revealed three years ago to extract coking coal off the coast of St Bees, with a processing plant on the former Marchon site at Kells.

Mark Kirkbride, chief executive at WCM, said: "The submission of our planning application marks a major milestone in the development of our new mine project.

"It is the culmination of three years of hard work and I strongly believe that the scheme will deliver major long term benefits to the local area."

The final phase of exploration work has began this week, with the drilling of five offshore boreholes and a team of geologists working from a barge off St Bees head.

Coal mining operations are expected to begin in 2019.

The scheme will employ 518 people and bosses have said that at least 80 per cent of these will go to locals.

More than 1,600 people have already expressed an interest in working at the mine and application forms are now being reviewed.

A series of recruitment assessment days are being organised to take place later this year, with registered applicants invited to attend.

"All those attending these days will be asked to complete a short competency test, as part of the assessment process, with successful applicants then being asked to return at a later date for a formal interview," said Helen Davies, the company's communications manager.

"The local community have provided both valuable feedback and tremendous support for the project to date, which has been invaluable in helping WCM reach this crucial stage in the project."

There will be three public open days taking place later this month (June 23, 24 and 25) for people to view the final designs and look through the planning application.

And next month (July 12) there will be the first Supplier Open Day for local businesses and individuals to find out how to be involved in the construction phase and beyond.

They all take place at the company's offices at Haig Pit, Kells.