THE Black Country Living Museum launched its newly restored Racecourse Colliery at the weekend.

Sitting on top of an original mine shaft, the new attraction focuses on ‘life on the surface’ at the turn of the century.

Visitors can immerse themselves into the world of the colliery workers in a full-sensory experience thanks to a number of restorations, works and improvements.

The pit cage has been restored to demonstrate how both coal was lifted out of the mine, as has the tub tramway, which allows the museum's pit pony Charlie to demonstrate the transportation of coal along the colliery.

The miner's hovel has also been refurbished to show the space where miners could relax, dry their clothes and take a break above ground.

Additionally, there are new effects – the sounds of miners talking in their distinctive dialect can now be heard as visitors explore the colliery, as well as atmospheric LED lighting - providing an atmospheric backdrop for costumed characters to tell the rich stories of the men, women and children whose lives revolved around the colliery.

Over the weekend visitors were able to listen to talks about the colliery and its restoration while watching an explosive gas and fire show to show the dangers of the mine.

Museum director and chief executive, Andrew Lovett, said: “This is an important part of Black Country history for us to bring to life for our visitors.

"Without coal, there would have been no steam power – the power behind the Industrial Revolution and the agent of social and economic change which helped create the world we live in today.

"We are truly grateful to our generous supporters who have made this new attraction possible.”