The fightback against vandalism of a miners' memorial site begun this week with the launch of an action group.

CCTV and increased police patrols were discussed at the William Pit Action Group's first meeting at the Bransty Royal British Legion headquarters.

Last week, smashed vodka and beer bottles were left strewn over the site north of Whitehaven, near C S S Cumbria Steelstock and the former skatepark just days after it had been cleaned up from a previous attack.

Representatives from Copeland Council and Cumbria Police discussed options to tackle the problem along with families of those who died in the 1947 disaster.

PCSO Mark Fishpool said the site had been placed on an "antisocial behaviour hit-list" by Cumbria Police and was subject to increased patrols because of the recent problems.

He said: "The quickest way tackle this would be to potentially cut the surround shrubs down to make the site more visible, potentially increasing lighting and increased police patrols."

Nicky Scott, neighbourhoods services officer for Copeland Council, agreed to look into who owns the surrounding land and the cost of potentially cutting down the nearby bushes and trees.

PCSO Fishpool added: "Anything that makes them more visible will make them less likely to drink there."

CCTV was deemed to be "cost prohibitive" by Copeland Council's assistant mayor Mike Graham, with PCSO Fishpool adding the cost of installation and running the camera could cost up to £6,000.

The committee also discussed the possibility of offenders completing a Community Payback scheme, a community sentence for unpaid work, to have the site cleaned up and deter others.

Committee chairman Joe Hewer will be contacting probation and unpaid work scheme officers in coming weeks to see whether the site can be looked at as part of the Community Payback programme.

PCSO Fishpool reminded the public to report any incidents of antisocial behaviour to the police as soon as possible by calling 101.

The action group's next meeting will be held on Thursday, October 6 at 6pm in the Bransty Royal British Legion headquarters.