A giant mural has been pencilled in for the mouth of a former East Lancs railway arch.

Blueprints have been drawn up by a Rossendale Council officer for a huge artwork to adorn the filled-in entrance to one of the Waterfoot Railway Tunnels.

Under the bid by economic development officer Leah Armitage, a massive steam train would be spray-painted on the grade II listed structure, off Newchurch Road.

One tunnel, near the junction with Burnley Road East, is blocked up and the adjoining one is part of the East Lancashire Cycleway.

In a design statement, Ms Armitage says the blocked-up tunnel has "no aesthetic value" and the mural "will enhance the appearance of the tunnel entrance and the appearance of the surrounding area."

She hopes the initiative will lend support to the emerging Waterfoot Arts Town concept, a key regeneration strategy for the valley area.

Scaffolding would be erected around the tunnel entrance while the mural was being created. The tunnel mouth would initially be painted matte black.

"This will not impact the cycle path that runs through the adjacent Newchurch no.1 tunnel," she adds.

A quick-drying spray paint would then be used for the mural, giving a long-lasting and durable finish.

Greens, purples, golden browns and oranges are being considered for the design as they will blend in with The Glen.

The last addition to the tunnels environment was a stone statue, installed in 2020 at the north western entrances.

The proposals are set to be considered by the borough's development control committee next Tuesday and have been recommended for approval.

A planning officer's report states: "In this case the main issue for consideration is whether or not the introduction of the proposed mural will meet these aims by reasonably preserving and enhancing the character, appearance and setting of this grade II listed structure.

"In this case it is considered that it will provided that it is painted wholly on the blockwork that has been used to infill the tunnel mouth and not on any part of the surrounding stone arch itself. A condition to ensure this can reasonably be imposed and is therefore recommended.

"The proposal has been considered by the council’s conservation consultant, who supports this view, agreeing that the mural will cause no discernible level of harm or loss of significance to this heritage asset provided the above limitation is imposed."

The original Rawtenstall to Bacup rail line, via Waterfoot, opened in 1852 but did not survive the Beeching era cuts and the last pasenger service ran in December 1966. The line was pulled up three years later.