An iconic dinosaur may be coming to visit Workington, if a campaign by councillors is successful. 

Workington town councillors have put in a bid to host the Diplodocus skeleton cast, known as Dippy, during its UK tour. 

The skeleton is currently a major attraction at the National History Museum in London and will be going on tour around the country in 2018.

Councillor Antony McGuckin, chairman of the council’s culture committee, believes the dinosaur would prove a major tourist attraction, generating interest in the area and bringing extra income, as well as providing opportunities for education.

He said: "It’s a great opportunity for this area.

"A lot of children in this area don’t get the chance to go to London and to see lots of these exhibitions.

"It’s a lot more than just a bunch of bones. It’s a huge opportunity for us to really go into a Jurassic era."

Dippy was first presented to the National History Museum in London in 1905 and was moved to the Hintze Hall in 1979.

Since then it has become renowned as the first sight to greet visitors as they pass through the main entrance into the museum.

The dinosaur was cast from a Diplodocus skeleton found in 1898 by railroad workers in Wyoming, USA.

It was announced earlier this year that Dippy would go on tour and be replaced by a blue whale skeleton.

The Natural History Museum invited applications from venues and organisations wanting to host the skeleton cast.

Coun McGuckin said: “I think the scope is huge. It’s a little bit nerve-wracking because it’s something we have never done. It will need a lot of support and people with vision to think we can do it. It’s really important that we get behind it.”

Workington Town Council will hear shortly if it has been shortlisted to host Dippy.