Stoke-on-Trent Middleport Pottery factory £1.5m revamp

A new Burleigh line was produced to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June

A further £1.5m is to be spent on revamping the UK's last working Victorian pottery factory.

The major buildings at Middleport Pottery in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, will be repaired and unused areas will be turned into workshops.

The factory, and 45 jobs, was saved by £7.5m from the Prince's Regeneration Trust (PRT) last year.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) said the project includes cataloguing machinery, and over 19,000 moulds.

Middleport Pottery has been producing hand-made Burleigh blue and white floral china since 1888.

The factory was taken over by Derbyshire's Denby Pottery firm and the Grade II listed building itself was secured by the PRT to help create a visitor and education centre, shop and cafe.

HLF chief executive Carole Souter said: "This will help to keep pottery manufacture as a going concern and sustain skills and employment for the future."