A memorial to children who lost their lives working in the area's coalmines has been boosted by restoration work.

The memorial stone, in St Nicholas' Gardens, Whitehaven, has had its lettering regilded by local firm Hasley's stonemasons in a project carried out by Whitehaven Heritage Action Group.

Raymond Devlin, who carried out the originally research for the memorial, was invited to unveil the restored monument. The restoration work cost £3,200.

"A man came into my bookshop and said the names were getting shabby on the memorial. He gave me £20 to get started," said Michael Moon, chairman of the Whitehaven Heritage Action Group.

"We decided to get it restored, it took about 15 months due to bad weather. Now it should be good for at least our lifetime.

The original memorial was unveiled on March 30, 1988, by then mayor Peter Bennett, who had requested it was built.

Mr Devlin, who has produced a book on the issue, was asked to carry out the research. The brother of his great, great grandmother is named on the monument.

"I read an article years ago about child miners and thought there must be a lot from Whitehaven. An article from 1802 showed the workforce and there were dozens of young boys and girls," said Mr Devlin.

"When Peter Bennett was mayor he wanted to create a memorial and I agreed to carry out research for it. I wrote to Somerset House to ask for permission to look at the death registers in Whitehaven and they let me."

After the re-gilded stone was unveiled Rev Rob Jackson said a prayer for the children. Refreshments followed the ceremony in the St Nicholas Centre.

The project has been supported with grants from The Whitehaven News Charitable Trust, West Cumbria Mines Research Group and Cumbria Community Foundation. Mr Andrew, of Frizington, donated the first £20.

The stone records the names of 77 children who died while coal-mining locally.