A prominent Workington pithead could be transformed into a memorial to the area's miners.

The project, which is being led by Workington town council, would see lighting and interpretive panels installed on the site of the Jane Pit coal mine, which closed in 1875 after 100 miners died when the mine flooded.

The 19th-century mine, which is situated on the junction of Annie Pit Lane and Mossbay Road, was built by Henry Curwen and is a significant historic site.

Chris Bagshaw, town clerk, said the plans were still at an early stage but that it was important the pit workers' sacrifices were recognised.

He said: "At the minute we're just at the stage of seeking permissions, so we've started talking to Allerdale about the land and looking at costs.

"We were quite impressed with some demonstrations we'd seen from a site in France where they'd used some clever lighting to enhance a site and make it a memorial.

"Workington was built on coal so there was a history of mining accidents across the town.

"There were men, women and children killed in those mines and we don't actually have anything in town that does justice to that effort, or to those who gave their lives to build the town and make the Curwens' wealth.

"It seems fitting that we should adapt one of the family's finest industrial monuments to remember the workers."