A RELIC of Scotland's mining heritage has been brought back to life to become one of the main exhibits at the country's premier industrial museum.

For more than 50 years the winding wheel was a vital part of the workings at Cardowan Colliery in Stepps, on the outskirts of north east Glasgow.

Built in the 1920s by a Coatbridge firm, it powered the shaft lifts that carried miners up and down to the coal face.

Now, after more than a year being renovated in Wales, the wheel has been returned to the Summerlee Heritage Museum, Coatbridge.

The museum, which tells the story of west Scotland's industrial past, is due to re-open in June after a £10million facelift lasting 18 months.

Jim Francis, of the Friends of Summerlee Appeal, said: "The mine went into production in 1929 and closed in 1983 and a lot of men and materials went into it during that time.

"The winding wheel was built by Murray and Patterson and it was taken apart and sent to Wales because firms there still have many of the skills we in Scotland have lost.

"Then it was sent to a firm in Mid Glamorgan for cleaning, replenishment and re-assembly."

He said it would form one of the main exhibits in the new-look museum.

The museum has had funding of £10m from the Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and North Lanarkshire Council.

But The Friends of Summerlee Appeal is trying to raise more money and to generate interest in the museum for when it re-opens.

Mr Francis added: "Anything up to and including £1m would be fabulous.

"When the iron and steel industry came there was a huge surge of people to Lanarkshire - Gaels from north Scotland and an influx of Irish workers.

"There is a real pride here. There was a lot of overspill into Glasgow from this area, mostly to the shipyards.

"The museum will have a Gibb and Hogg engine, the last one made at the Airdrie factory, which worked at Cardowan."

The museum's new layout will let visitors experience a fascinating journey through the area's geology and pre-history to its transformation into one of Britain's most important industrial centres.

There will be interactive exhibits, including a blast furnace and pig beds, where visitors will be able to "tap the furnace" and see the molten iron run out.

A replica of Scotland's first iron boat, The Vulcan, has also been moved to a new exhibition area.

The Lottery cash, plus a number of smaller grants from the Scottish Museums Council, has enabled Summerlee Museum to complete essential conservation work to collections.

An 1832 Reform Banner and a 19th century Friendly Society Banner have been completed.

Other items from the social history collection include a stone pediment from the former Co-op building in Coatbridge and the Airdrie Football Charity Cup.