VISITORS will step back in time to the 1950s at a North-East museum this weekend.

Beamish Museum is to hold a two-day Festival of 50s starting on Saturday (June 27), celebrating the rock and roll years with fashion, music and vehicles from the era.

The open-air museum, which made its name commemorating the region’s Edwardian history, hopes to go back to the future by opening a 1950s town in the coming years.

Geraldine Straker, Remaking Beamish Project Officer at the museum, said: “We’re really looking forward to our Festival of 50s, it was hugely popular last year and it’s set to be even more so this year.

“The festival is a great way to tell people about the 50s as we hope to build a 1950s Town at Beamish.

“We have Cleveland College of Art and Design taking their 50s creations down the catwalk, football with Durham Amateur Football Trust and crime and punishment with the North East Police History Society in our police room.

Visitors can explore the museum’s current 1950s collections, share stories from the decade and guess the original purchase price of objects on display.

There will be live music from the Tees Valley Jazzmen and Ruby and the Mystery Cat, plus the Beamish Choir will be singing hits from the times and hairdressers will be on hand to create a 50s hairdo for a small charge.

There will also be vintage 1950s fairground attractions and cars, motorcycles and caravans from the period

As part of the Lottery-funded Remaking Beamish project, there are plans to make a 1950s Town and Upland Farm, including houses, shops, police house, cafe, cinema and recreation area.