WORK at an opencast near Kirkconnel has stopped mining as bosses plan their next step.

Hargreaves have confirmed that work at its Glenmuckloch site has been suspended and the Chronicle understands that staff have now been moved over to the House of Water site near Dalleagles.

A Hargreaves spokesperson this week told the Chronicle : "Work at Glenmuckloch has been temporarily suspended whilst the key stakeholders discuss the options for the site going forward. This will not impact on the restoration."

The Chronicle exclusively revealed back in February how House of Water is to remain as the only one of Hargreaves' seven Scottish sites to continue coaling beyond the summer after the Durham-based firm announced plans to halt production at six of its sites, including Netherton, near Skares, Duncanziemere, near Logan, and Glenmuckloch as well as Broken Cross in South Lanarkshire and Muir Dean and St Ninians, both in Fife.