AN appeal has been made for the return of masonry taken from a historic Teesside church being rebuilt at a North-East tourist attraction.

Work has started at Beamish Museum on rebuilding St Helen's Church, originally located in Eston, after it was dismantled brick by brick.

The curator of the museum, near Stanley, is appealing for help to ensure the church is rebuilt as closely as possible to its original design.

As well as calling for information on the whereabouts of masonry removed from the church over the years, curator Jim Rees said: "I am still desperately short of images of the stained glass window in the south wall of the chancel - I know it was of Saint Helen, and that it was considered to be of Tudor date, but beyond that, nothing.

"The cast iron window in the same wall was stolen for scrap and I could do with closer pictures. All or any pictures which we could borrow or copy could be a great help, particularly of the areas destroyed by fire or vandals.

"Any pre-fire close-up views of practically anything could add details that will help the rebuild to be as accurate as possible."

The old parish church of Eston dates back to about 1100 and has had a varied and interesting past.

In 1998, having lain disused for about 15 years, the church had been repeatedly burned out, partially demolished by vandals and was in a sorry state.

The vestry was stolen in its entirety for its stone and the chancel arch and parts of the medieval chancel were pulled down.

At its former site, there now only remains a slight foundation outline of the church, with a small commemoration stone showing a painting of it as it once stood in Eston Cemetery.

Normanby Local History Group member Jim Humphrey, who researched and compiled a booklet on St Helen's Church in 2005, said: "It is great news that the church is being rebuilt to its former glory.

"After such a wealth of history, it will be wonderful to see this chapel resurrected."

For more information on the church, visit Normanby Local History Group's website at normanbyhistorygroup.co.uk Anyone who would like to get in touch with Mr Rees can call the museum on 0191-3704000.