THE company operating the huge Drakelands tungsten and tin mine at Hemerdon has hailed another 'major milestone' on the road to full production.

Wolf Minerals say the first ore has been put into the mine's processing plant as part of its 'wet commissioning', where equipment is rigorously tested prior to opening.

The Australian mining company said work at the site was on schedule, following the construction of the processing plant and associated infrastructure.

Its goal of opening the first new metal mine in Britain for 45 years will 'shortly become a reality, they added.

Managing director Russell Clark also pointed out that the mine has remained on track while maintaining an 'excellent safety and environmental record.'

The £130 million project is forecast to provide 200 jobs once fully operational.

The first processed tungsten from the mine is expected to be delivered to customers in September, while the facility will hit full production in early 2016.

Mr Clark said: 'After an incredibly busy 15 months, we have put the first ore into the plant at the Hemerdon project on schedule.

'From this point GR Engineering will continue commissioning and is scheduled to hand the plant across to Wolf in August.

'We remain on target to deliver initial concentrates to our offtake partners in the third quarter of this year.

'Importantly, this achievement has been attained in conjunction with an excellent safety and environmental record.

'I congratulate the Wolf team, GR Engineering and their sub-contractors, our mining contractor, CA Blackwell, and the various consultants and regulatory bodies which have worked together to successfully deliver the project to this point both safely and on time.'

For more on this story, see this week's Ivybridge & South Brent Gazette