TICKETS are still available for a talk this weekend about the early days of the railways.

Clayport Library, Claypath, Durham, is hosting the free event as part of its local history month celebrations.

This Saturday (17 May) at 2pm, Dr Winifred Stokes, chair of the County Durham History and Heritage Forum and the County Durham Local History Society, will give a talk called Iron Roads for Iron Horses.

During the talk, Dr Stokes, who has spent more than two decades researching railway and mining history, will consider how rail tracks were made during the steam age and look at the companies that made them.

Tickets are also still available for a slideshow at the library on the following Saturday, May 24, when Julian Harrop, from Beamish Museum, will talk about items from the museum’s collection

The talk, which starts at 10.30am, will cover a miscellany of photographs, maps, books and other items.

Other events at the Durham County Council-run library during local history month include a visit from Shildon Model Railway Club, whose layout will be on display in the lending library from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, May 24.

Staff from Head of Steam: Darlington Railway Museum will run a drop-in session from 10am to noon on Thursday, May 29, when visitors can find out about the role of the railways during the First World War, handle some railway-related objects and make their own chaldron wagon.

All activities are free but places must be booked in advance for the railway talks.

To find out more and to book, call the library on 03000-265-524.