People can have their say on plans to construct a £165 million undersea mine in West Cumbria.

A 30-day consultation has opened on West Cumbria Mining's plans for the planned Woodhouse Colliery, off the coast of St Bees.

Once the consultation comes to an end on February 17, the application will go before county council planners the following month.

It the application is successful, it is hoped construction work will start in the winter.

Work creating the mine could be completed by autumn 2020 and full mining production would begin in 2023.

More than 1,600 have people expressed an interest in working at the mine which would have more than 500 employees.

Until the planning application has been determined people will not find out if they have moved on to the next stage of the recruitment process.

West Cumbria Mining said it was working with local training providers to help make sure people in the area have the right skills to match the roles on offer.

It has also committed to employ 80 per cent of its workforce from within 20 miles of the mine and offer up to 50 apprenticeships.

To comment on the plans, email developmentcontrol@cumbria.gov.uk, referencing application PL\1689\05 (4/17/9007) and your postcode in the subject.