The race to win £50million of lottery funding for the Black Country has fallen behind in the early stages.

The bid to open up caverns and canals beneath Dudley is in second place behind The Eden Project’s The Edge scheme, say bookmakers William Hill.

The Edge is rated the 5-6 favourite, the urban park a 2-1 shot, and Sherwood: The Living Legend and Sus-tran’s Connect2 national cycle route 4-1 outsiders.

Rupert Adams, from William Hill, said the Black Country bid could pull back to become the favourite in the coming weeks.

The scheme will also breathe new life into Wolverhampton’s canal network, and link Walsall and West Bromwich with a 12-mile green corridor.

The cash will be awarded after a televised contest next month.