A FORMER mining site with a history dating back to the early 20th Century can now be visited through the power of virtual reality.

Technology company Action Marketing and Consultancy has created a free online virtual reality tour of Lancashire Mining Museum, formerly Astley Green Colliery, to give visitors an insight into the work being done there.

Company owner Charles Woods, from Boothstown, has led a project which has created a tour around the different areas of the Higher Green Lane site.

They include the new miner’s cottage and the engine rooms.

He said: “I have been working with virtual reality technology for years and have been looking for a site to demonstrate how it can be used to increase its popularity.

“I live within walking distance of the museum and love how it has carried on improving for visitors.

“When I explained to the bosses about the online tour they were very interested in it.

“A lot of people know about the developments at the museum but hopefully this will help to get more people to go down and visit once they see the tour.”

After photographs are taken at the site, the shots are loaded onto a system and then converted into a virtual reality tour which does not have to be downloaded.

Due to the ongoing improvements at the musuem, pictures have to be taken regularly to keep the tour up-to-date.

Charles added: “We have had a lot of positive feedback since the virtual reality tour has been launched.

“The mining museum’s website statistics have increased which is nice to know.

“We have had other museums asking us about working with them too so hopefully we can help them as well.”

To view the virtual reality tour visit bit.ly/2IOthJl.