More than 1,500 people have signed a petition against the creation of a new £165 million undersea coal mine off the Cumbrian coast.

Campaigners from the Keep Cumbrian Coal in the Hole group will deliver their petition to James Brokenshire, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, on Wednesday afternoon.

They are asking for the county council's decision to approve West Cumbria Mining's plans to be called in.

Protester Marianne Birkby said: "This coal mine should have been stopped on climate grounds alone, never mind that the site is so close to Sellafield, the most hazardous nuclear installation in Europe.

"The councillors who made the decision and the public have effectively been kept in the dark and apathetic about the real hazards of this mine; why?

"This coal mine needs to be viewed in the full light of public scrutiny and expert assessment and that can only happen if the secretary of state calls in the plan for a public inquiry.”

The petition comes after Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron also wrote to Mr Brokenshire to ask for the plans to be called in.

Mr Farron said: "I completely understand the motivation over jobs and the local economy.

"I believe that's what drove the council to make its decision.

"I'm very supportive of other things in the energy coast in the renewable side of things and I've been very critical of the Government for the failure of Moorside.

"But I think we as a community need to agree that fossil fuels need to stay in the ground.

"We need to stop making excuses for not doing anything about climate change."

WCM has been given the go-ahead to proceed with its proposals to extract coking coal off the coast of St Bees.

The plans would include building a processing plant on the former Marchon site at Kells and it has been claimed the development would create 500 jobs.

The decision has been widely welcomed by senior politicians, community and business leaders who believe it is the jobs boost the area needs.

Following the county council's planning panel giving the project the green light last month, WCM CEO Mark Kirkbride said: "Today marks a very important milestone in our journey to develop a world class mine in Cumbria and is the culmination of five years of hard work and determination by the WCM team to realise our vision.

"Woodhouse Colliery will bring significant local benefits to Whitehaven, Copeland and Cumbria in terms of jobs and investment.

"I am proud to be part of something which will have such a positive impact on the local community and economy as well as the long-term financial benefits the mine will bring to the UK."