THE life of railway pioneer George Stephenson was recreated yesterday as an educational film was shot in the North-East.

Preston Hall Museum, in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, was the setting for the piece, called George Stephenson - This is Your Life.

The film will form part of a children's education pack given out at attractions across the region, which have joined together to form a "train trail".

Angela Brockbank, Darlington's railway and associated heritage project officer, said: "We are using professional actors and the film will last about 12 minutes.

"It's done in the style of This is Your Life, with different people appearing to talk about what a good job Stephenson did. It is mainly aimed at 11 to 14-year-olds and will be ready for September to give out to schools and to be used in some of the museums."

The train trail attractions are: Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, Beamish Open Air Museum, Tanfield Railway, Weardale Railway, Preston Hall, near Stockton, Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar, the Museum of Hartlepool and Locomotion - the National Railway Museum, at Shildon.

* Tickets for Blaze!, a community opera based on Darlington's railway heritage, which is being staged at the town's railway museum from July 27 to 31, are now on sale. They are available, priced £2.50, £5 and £7, on (01325) 486555

Published: 22/06/2004