MORECAMBE Bay has inspired countless people in all walks of life down the years.

From fund-raising ramblers guided across its treacherous sands to exciting artists such as Fiona Clucas, who embrace and capture its vast panoramas. Its influence knows no bounds.

One visionary even wants to build a bridge across it!

Welfare State International has long had its artistic eye on the Bay and its Longline project is a major programme of work over three years leading to a Carnival Opera in 2005, which will mark the wonders and dangers of Morecambe Bay.

So far the Ulverston-based engineers of the imagination' have created Longline Act 1, consisting of Rock in the Sea, a major cycle of songs and One Rock, an ecological installation, described by the chief executive of the Arts Council England, Peter Hewitt, as "profound, beautiful and deeply moving."

Through Longline, WSI seeks to bring people together in a spirit of research, awareness and celebration. Already artists, scientists, musicians and communities have together created a bank of songs, stories, choirs and artworks.

Education plays a large part too, and recently WSI's Lantern House was host to the launch of Thinking on the Edge, a book for teachers around the Bay to support and promote approaches to develop children's reflective thinking. Chris Rowley, based at Ambleside's St Martin's College, worked with the Morecambe Bay Partnership to publish the book, supported by the Barrow Community Learning Partnership with Heritage Lottery funding. Chris says it seeks to help teachers recognise and promote children's philosophical questions and a number of schools around the Bay now use the technique, known as philosophy for children' to encourage dialogue in the classroom about big questions.

At the moment, WSI is gathering personal stories that reflect people's feelings about what it means to live and work in or around Morecambe Bay. Whether funny, sad or quirky, WSI wants to hear them and it will stage workshops for locals to share their words with others, as well as develop story-writing skills.

The stories gathered will form a limited edition book, plus feature in an exhibition and on WSI's website.

Bay Tales: Story Gathering Workshops run at Grange Institute on Monday (9am-5.30pm); Wednesday at Barrow Central Library (9am-6pm) and Thursday (9am-5.30pm) at the Friends Meeting House, Morecambe. Places are free, but limited.

Anyone with a tale to tell and wanting to take part in a workshop should contact Anthea Rathlin-Jones on 01229-581127.

Thinking on The Edge is available from the Morecambe Bay Partnership at 32, Market Place, Kendal.