SUPPORT is needed to restore one of the final locomotives to be produced at the Vulcan Works near Winwick.

Members of Newton and Earlestown Community Group want to create a permanent tribute to the historical industrial legacy of the site.

Walter Urwin was an engineer at the Vulcan Works but he died just after designing the GEC Stephenson Locomotive.

To celebrate his work, the first piece of engineering off the production line was named after him – these were the last locomotives built at the site. 

The locos worked at Redcar Steel Mill until it closed and are now in private ownership

But £25,000 is needed to save the locomotive from the scrap yard, fully refurbish it and put it on display at the entrance to the former Vulcan Works site.

Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron, from Newton-le-Willows, described the site where the work was carried out from 1830 to 2002 as of ‘national significance’.  

He said: “It’s a perfect tribute to a now lost industry. 

“I hope the public can get behind the project and donate anything that they can to make sure we can do this. 

“Sadly, if we don’t raise the money, the loco will be scrapped and lost forever.”

More than 14,000 has been raised so far but more help is needed to save the locomotive.

He added: “It would be a tribute to the national significance of the work that were on the site from 1830 to 2002, building more than 6,000 locomotives.”  

To donate to the project visit necg.weebly.com/vulcan-train-donations.html.