AN historian says a Teesside council has missed an opportunity by only inviting civic dignitaries to a heritage day.

Bob Harbron, chairman of Norton Heritage, said he had been contacted by other historians and a history teacher complaining they were not invited to the event in Stockton.

Town mayor Councillor Ann Cains invited civic dignitaries from the Tees Valley, County Durham and North Yorkshire to see the borough of Stockton's heritage sites last week.

Councillors and council officers from outside the borough learnt about Stockton's town hall, where the charter for the world's first passenger railway was decided, Preston Hall Museum, the Tees Barrage, the Wolfson Research Institute and the Green Dragon Museum.

They were also told about Stockton Council's plans to use the district's heritage in future to attract more visitors.

However Mr Harbron said a history teacher had contacted him to say that an opportunity had been missed by not involving the community in the tour.

He said: "It is great that things like this are finally starting to happen because it means that the council is recognising our heritage is a real selling point.

"However the point is if they had taken just five history team leaders from our comprehensive schools they could have passed all the information about what is going to happen to the children.

"It might have stayed with the youngsters for ever and would help them to have a real pride in their area and its history."

Fran Kelly, head of democratic services at Stockton Council, said: "The heritage day was a very successful event. While it was not possible to extend an open public invitation for this particular event we are sure that the success of the day will have raised the profile of key areas of Stockton."