AN ANNUAL celebration of the region's railway heritage opens this week, providing a glimpse into the past, present and future of the industry.

The Bishop Auckland Discovery Centre, in County Durham, opens its exhibition on Thursday with a display including a selection of models and artefacts, ranging from replica model engines to British Rail uniforms.

Groups taking part include the A1 Locomotive Trust, Darlington Railway Preservation Society, the North-East Locomotive Preservation Group, Tanfield Railway, and the Weardale Railway Locomotive Preservation Group.

The centre will host a lecture by Chris Lloyd, assistant editor of The Northern Echo, who is involved in the paper's Treasuring Our Railway Heritage campaign. His talk, A Potty Potted History of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, is at 7pm on Thursday, August 23. Admission is £1.

The Discovery Centre is in the town's Market Place. It is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The exhibition runs until Saturday, August 25, and tickets for the talk must be booked on (01388) 662666.