The mine cavity could become the centrepiece for the project

Consultants KPMG will carry out a feasibility study into the development of Stobswood and Maidens Hall opencast mines in Widdrington, Northumberland.

Organisers want to construct a massive leisure complex, with indoor skiing and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

The site would also have lakes, shops, restaurants, cinemas and accommodation.

The Widdrington Regeneration Partnership (WRP) and Northumberland County Council are behind the project, which has been called Blue Sky Forest.

The centrepiece will be a 140-metre deep cavity that has been created from the Stobswood surface mine, which is the largest in Britain.

Eden Project

All the coal has been taken out and UK Coal, which is backing the Blue Sky project, is working with the partnership to find alternative uses for the site.

An indoor skiing facility would be housed inside the void.

WRP member James Grant said: "We are confident that KPMG will find the scheme is viable and WRP can begin the process of securing funding and preparing a detailed planning proposal for this major development.

"Blue Sky Forest would be funded through a public-private partnership and we are already in discussions with some of the leading names in the tourism and leisure industry.

"The Eden Project in Cornwall originated from a big hole in the ground.

"In our two surface mined sites, we have identified an unused area large enough to accommodate the size of development we believe will put this part of Northumberland on the world tourism map."