A DELEGATION from Brazil has been touring Lancashire to examine how engineers tackle old mine workings.

The South American contingent was interested in how reed beds were used to treat tainted mine water and waste tip run-offs.

Part of their fact-finding mission took them to the former Deerplay site, between Burnley and Bacup, and Clough Foot, near Todmorden, before they viewed similar sites in Barnsley.

Chris Satterley, a technical lead for the National Coal Authority, said: " We discussed the innovative approach to reed bed refurbishment undertaken at Deerplay and the challenges of operating reed beds with changing mine water conditions in exposed upland areas."