A FAMILY is appealing for information about a well, which is marking 100 years of use as a business.

The spring site, in Seaton, was bought in 1896, and the water production business is believed to have started in the early 1900s.

In 1999, it was taken over by Gordon, Colin and Martin Bulmer, the third generation of the Bulmer family, which has been farming in the Seaham area for more than 90 years.

The family set up Seaton Spring Water between its farm and Calor gas businesses as a diversification project, which was the direct result of a downturn in the agricultural industry.

The well draws water from deep beneath the east Durham countryside and was once part of the old Sunderland and South Shields Water Company. It ceased production after the Kielder and Derwent reservoirs were built.

A spokesman for Seaton Spring Water said: "As its centenary year is approaching, we would like to find out more about the history of the well and site, and would be interested to hear from any member of the public who can provide information about its construction and water production, as many of the documents and records were destroyed before it was bought by the Bulmer family."

People can contact Andrew Grantham on 0191-512 6678 or 08000 964 564.