MECCANO has helped create some of today's most ingenious designs, and designers, and this weekend, fans of the toy will be hoping to inspire future inventors.

The designer of the famous Mini car, Sir Alec Issigoni and Nobel prize-winning chemist Sir Harry Kroto, both cite the engineering sets as a big influence on their work and tomorrow, the North-East Meccano Society will be trying to get more children and adults hooked on the toy.

The group will be visiting Bishop Auckland's Discovery Centre, where they will be displaying a range of historic and up-to-date models and will be on hand to answer visitors' questions.

Ian Mordue, secretary of the North-East branch, said: "We're just people who have been interested in Meccano sets ever since we were young.

"The complexity and engineering side has taken over more as we've got older, but our purpose in life is to try to get through to people the benefits of working with Meccano."

The workshop runs from 11am until 4pm at the centre in Bishop Auckland Market Place and admission is free.