Cornish 'Man Engine' named UK's best arts project

The Man Engine toured various sites in Cornwall and West Devon last summer. Credit: ITV News Westcountry

The giant moving puppet of a Cornish miner has been awarded 'the best UK arts project' by the National Lottery in a ceremony today.

Comedian, novelist and broadcaster David Baddiel, who's wife originates from Redruth, presented the award to it's creator Will Coleman and the team behind the project in Camborne.

David Baddiel joined the Man Engine team to present the award on behalf of the National Lottery. Credit: ITV News Westcountry

The Man Engine unearthed a vein of pride and resilience last year when nearly a third of Cornwall turned out to celebrate their mining heritage.

The puppet was created to celebrate 10 years of parts of the county being designated as a World Heritage site for their historic links to tin mining.

The Cornish tin mines were in operations until the late 1990s. Credit: PA

It is the largest mechanical puppet ever to be built in Britain, standing at 11.2m tall. National Lottery funding helped fund the tour, which brought Cornish towns to a near standstill.

The project helped people share memories of those who worked and died at tin mines, which closed as late as the 1990s.

Next Spring the story continues when the Man Engine will say goodbye to Cornwall to tour South Wales and the North of England.