THE mining heritage projects in Lochgelly have been given the backing of the 4Winds Trust

The Lochgelly Community Development Forum and the Lochgelly Heritage Group have received cheques totalling £3500 from the Little Raith Wind Farm Community Fund.

Principle Contact for the Trust, Stevie Murray, said: "The work undertaken by the LCDF has long been recognised across the town.

"We are pleased that the Trust has been able to support this work and are continuing to do so.

"The Heritage Group are a relatively new group, however, they have been establishing a heritage trail for Lochgelly.

"Their projects include seating and picture boards at various points on the trail which includes the pug line that linked the Neiilie and Jenny Gray collieries". "The 4 Winds Trust are very happy to support this project."

The Heritage Group's trail will open this spring and will join with the Forum's project to create an authentic miner's cottage in the Happyland, near the public park.

The project to build the cottage got the backing of Fife Council last week and the Forum's Christine McGrath, Eileen McKenna and Helen Ross are delighted with the backing.

They have had interest from other communities' heritage groups in what is planned and hope that they may be able to see a major coalfield heritage project developed with the miner's cottage at the centre of it.