A NORTH-EAST museum has joined a national campaign to help fight plastic pollution.

The Refill campaign, set up by City to Sea, and brought to the region by Northumbrian Water, aims to reduce the need for single-use plastic bottles by encouraging businesses to become Refill stations.

Visitors can fill up their refillable bottles with tap water in areas around Beamish, near Stanley, County Durham, after the museum signed up to the campaign.

Deputy director Rhiannon Hiles said: “Here at Beamish we are really pleased to be part of the Refill campaign.

“We are committed to reducing plastic waste and actively encourage the use of reusable rather than throw away bottles. “

“Around the museum we have various Refill points, and we are encouraging everyone to fill up their reusable bottles.”

Visitors can fill up free of charge in the museum’s Coffee Shop at the Entrance, the Tea Rooms in The 1900s Town, the Sinkers’ Bait Cabin in The 1900s Pit Village and the British Kitchen at The 1940s Farm.

Beamish is one of over 500 companies in the region to have signed up and has been added to the free Refill app, which shows users where they can refill for free, and offers rewards when they do.

For more information visit www.refill.org.uk.