author Terry Deary gave school children a Horrible History lesson when he visited Beamish Museum to pro-mote a new learning scheme.

The popular author of the Horrible History children's books dropped in on the museum's Victorian school to highlight its New Access Programme - a project that raises sponsorship from local companies to pay for school children to visit the attraction.

Pupils from Stanley Burnside Primary School were the first to benefit from the scheme that invites North-East companies to make a gift aid donation.

Mr Deary, dressed suitably as a Victorian school inspector, said: "Many local children from disadvantaged schools aren't visiting Beamish.

"Schools now have to pay a lot of money for transport so many of them are missing out. We are asking local companies to sponsor school visits so all children can benefit from the museum."