The colossal Man Engine, voted National Lottery Best Arts Project 2017, will return this Easter. He will be resurrected in the far west of Cornwall, before blazing a trail right across the UK to other iconic industrial heritage sites.

People turned out in their tens of thousands in 2016 to meet and greet the largest mechanical puppet ever constructed in Britain. The giant miner uncovered a deep vein of passion and pride running the length of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.

This year he will be visiting key Cornish mining locations at Geevor Tin Mine, Heartlands and Lostwithiel, before travelling on to Devon, Somerset, South Wales, Shropshire and Yorkshire.

“There’s a lot more on offer this year,” says the Man Engine’s creator Will Coleman, of Golden Tree Productions, “Some details are being kept under wraps until the actual launch on Saturday, March 31, at Geevor, but I can give you a few hints about what extras to expect.”

“There are two events at each location: the ‘Afternooner’ and the Afterdarker’ with a build-up of activities on site from when the gates open ‘til the actually ceremony starts. Our performing team will out amongst the crowds interacting with our crazy new inventions: person-powered mining-dumper-carts.

“At the Afternooner there will be opportunities for big kids and their families to get hands-on with mini-mining games and activities. At each location we will be treated to the rousing sound of a local brass band (Pendeen Silver Band, Camborne Youth Band, Lostwithiel Town Band) who will also take part in the Man Engine ceremony itself.

"As everyone knows, the Man Engine will only ‘transform’ when enough people sing. So to heighten the experience at every Afternooner, we have rattled-up a 100-strong choir of local singers.

“The Afterdarker promises an edgier experience for braver souls. We’ve commissioned an epic, industrial sound track, from well-known Cornish composer Jim Carey. Jim has created an appropriately huge-scale score including the recorded talents of St Keverne brass band.

"We are also very excited to be collaborating with Titanium Fireworks who are adding pyrotechnic effects to help us depict not just mining, but also smelting, casting and forge-work - the entire industrial revolution in a white-hot, explosive celebration.

Tickets can be booked at manenginetickets.com.