Beamish Museum will hold the North-East’s Paralympic Torch Relay Flame Celebrations this summer.

The flame will visit the open air attraction, near Stanley, County Durham, which is dedicated to the region’s industrial heritage, on Friday August 28 between 5 and 8pn.

It is among 34 locations the games’ organising committee has chosen to host flame celebrations.

Four flames will be taken from Edinburgh, London, Cardiff and Belfast to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Bucks., where they will create the official London 2012 Paralympic Flame, which will be taken by a 24-hour relay to London for the Paralympic opening ceremony.

In the North-East, a torchbearer will be chosen to collect the English Flame from London and bring it to County Durham for the regional celebrations.

Museum director Richard Evans said: "We are delighted to have been selected as the regional host of the London 2012 Paralympic Flame Celebrations.

"It's a great opportunity for everyone in the region to get together for a unique evening at Beamish on the 24th of August and celebrate the 2012 Paralympic Games. We are really looking forward to it."

Paul Watson, chairman of the Association of North East Councils, said: "We are delighted to announce that Beamish, 'the living museum of the North' will play host to a Flame Celebration for the North East of England.

"Councils in the North-East have welcomed the opportunity to participate in activities that will enable our communities to be part of, and benefit from, this once-in-a-lifetime occasion."

Director of Paralympic Integration at London 2012, Chris Holmes, said: "We are thrilled to announce that Beamish Museum will play host to a Flame Celebration.

"This new concept will involve people from all around the UK in the spirit of the Paralympic Movement in unique ways relevant to the area.

" I know that the North- East will get involved in this celebration and help ignite passion for the Paralympics across the UK."

Geoff Hodgson, London 2012 Nations and Regions Group Representative for the North- East, said: "This will be the final opportunity for people in the North-East to celebrate the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in the region so we hope as many people as possible will come along to Beamish to join in."