ONE of the world's greatest steam treasures is being brought back to its original home as the star exhibit in the £10m Shildon Railway Village, opening in September.

The 175-year-old locomotive Sans Pareil will go on show close to where it was built by Shildon engineer Timothy Hackworth in 1829.

More than 60,000 visitors a year are expected to flock to the new venture, which is a branch of the National Railway Museum in York.

Tuesday's announcement that the locomotive would be among 60 vehicles displayed in a 6,000 square metre centre at the railway village, was welcomed by manager George Muirhead.

He said: "The return of the Sans Pareil is of huge significance and importance to Shildon.

"Timothy Hackworth is largely thought of as one of the 'fathers of the railways' and Sans Pareil is one of the most important early locomotives in the world, so obviously this is a big coup."

Hackworth's great, great granddaughter Jane Hackworth Young added: "It is 175 years since Sans Pareil left Shildon and now the locomotive is coming back to within yards where it was built.

"It will be the first thing visitors see as they arrive at the new attraction and that is wonderful."