THE Tees Barrage will be used as a base in a campaign to encourage tourists to discover the River Tees.

The Canal and River Trust, the charity which cares for 2,000 miles of the nation’s waterways, has set up a Welcome Station at the Barrage which will enable visitors to discover the range of activities that can be enjoyed on the river.

It will be run by local volunteers who will greet visitors and provide information on what they can do in the area.

The charity's campaign is separate from a £3.7 million, five year project titled River Tees Rediscovered, which aims to encourage people living between Darlington and Teesmouth to use the river more for recreational activities and to discover wildlife.

The Canal and River Trust's Welcome Station project is designed to help people find out more about the Barrage, local facilities, wildlife and nearby volunteering opportunities or even enjoy some fun family activities.

It’s hoped the scheme could be extended in future to provide guided walks and environmental classrooms, giving youngsters the opportunity to learn about the ecology of the river.

An induction day is being held on Wednesday, July 1 which will provide anyone interested in helping out a chance to find out more about the Trust’s work, the Barrage and how they can become involved.

A small team of volunteers has been working over the winter to transform the North Tower at the Barrage into a colourful, welcoming space. Now a larger team is needed to bring the Welcome Station to life.

Claire McDonald, volunteer development coordinator for the Trust, said; “The area around the Barrage is a really popular spot and the Welcome Station will be a great focal point directing people to the best wildlife walks, pubs and activity centres along the river.

“We’re looking for enthusiastic, friendly volunteers with great local knowledge who will be able to help people make the most out of a day by the river – which in turn will benefit pubs, cafes and other businesses along the route.

“It’s a great way to meet people, get involved in the local community and really wax lyrical about all the fantastic places along the river.”

Another successful river project includes Tees Heritage Park which aims to preserve green spaces by the river in the Stockton and Yarm areas.

However other attempts to better utilise the beautiful river, which has its own designated E-route long distance walkway with associated national guidebook, have been ridiculed.

A marketing campaign to promote the River Tees as the River of Love destination for romantic breaks in 2004 attracted some jokes at its expense in the national press.

An article in The Guardian at the time said: "Think of the world's most romantic rivers and what springs to mind? The Seine, maybe, with its elegant bridges and embankments perfect for strolling lovers? The stately Danube, winding through the cities of the once mighty Austro-Hungarian empire? The River Tees? No, we thought not..."

* The induction day will take place at Tees Barrage, Navigation Way, Thornaby, Stockton-On-Tees TS17 6QA from 10am until around 1pm on Wednesday 1st July 2015. For more details or to book a place contact Claire McDonald on 07920 295943 or Claire.mcdonald@canalrivertrust.org.uk