The historic home of the industrial revolution is under threat of major landslides due to mine workings over the centuries.

McPhillips beat six other firms with an £8.8m bid to stabilise the Jackfield Area of the site and build a new stretch of road through the gorge.

The site forms the southern flank of the valley side down to the river edge and is nearly 1km long and 400m wide.

The proposed scheme aims to stabilise the most “active” area of ground to allow a new highway to be constructed on the stabilised ground.

This will run between the end of the Tile Museum and a point near Maws Craft Centre to replace the existing road.

Main works will get underway now and involve drilling and grouting to treat shallow mine workings. The firm will also carry out piling to prevent slope movement and strengthen the river bank to prevent erosion in Ironbridge.

The work is due to finish by March 2016.