A MINING company will begin a major environmental project after being awarded the UK's largest payout from the European Union's Life Environment programme.

Cleveland Potash plans to spend £3.3m returning the unusable part of mined ore to its underground workings.

The company was given £1.6m from the EU fund for the scheme, which will protect the local landscape.

Cleveland Potash will put waste back into underground areas that have already been mined.

Mike Marsden, general manager, said: "We are proud to have been the first to develop an alternative waste disposal method which meets our commitment to continually improving our operation while working in ever greater harmony with the environment."

David Bowe, MEP for Yorkshire and Humberside, will be at the mine to open the project today.