DIGGING huge holes to extract stone and metal ores from beneath Cumbria's fields and fells will feature in a day of talks being held by the Cumbria Industrial History Society.

The spring conference on Saturday, April 27, is called Out of the Ground and is being held at the North Lakes Hotel Penrith.

It costs £29 to attend, including lunch. You can find out more on the website at www.cumbria-industries.org.uk.

You can also write to CIHS Bookings, 2 Beckside Court, Kirkby-in-Furness, Cumbria LA17 7TQ.

Ian Hartland will look at mechanical excavators from 1835 and Richard Smith will describe lead smelting in Cumbria.

There are also talks on pink granite from Shap and Tilberthwaite copper mine, near Coniston.