A PILOT project to encourage fathers to take day trips with their children will get under way tomorrow.

Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, has organised a fathers' and childrens' day for a group from Sure Start Ferryhill and Chilton, County Durham, tomorrow.

After the visit, museum staff, dressed in period costume, will make a return trip to the Sure Start centre.

They will help the fathers and their children put together a book of their memories of the trip, featuring artwork and photographs.

The project has been funded by Renaissance North-East and Sure Start Ferryhill and Chilton.

If successful, the scheme will be extended to other North-East museums.

Family learning officer Charlotte Dack said: "The dads and their children have been very enthusiastic about the project.

"It has provided an opportunity for them to meet other dads and become more included in the early years development of their children and it has also encouraged the group to book visits to other museums."

Published: 24/09/2004