AN award-winning mining centre whose site was once listed as one of Durham's worst eyesores celebrated its coming of age yesterday.

Since it opened in 1984, Killhope: The North of England Lead Mining Museum, in Upper Weardale, County Durham, has welcomed thousands of visitors and seen its landmark water wheel used as a symbol for the region's industrial heritage.

Popular with families and school parties as well as students and archaeologists, it offers a glimpse of life at the height of the lead mining boom of the late 1800s.

Less than a century later, it lay in ruins, robbed of its stone and machinery with only the giant wheel left.

At that time, in the late 1950s, Killhope was in such a state that Ministry of Agriculture officials invited tenders for its demolition.

It survived and was taken on by Durham County Council, who got the lower site scheduled as an ancient monument in 1968.

Gradually, features were exposed and restored, bridges were rebuilt and volunteers from the Friends of Killhope cleared out Park Level Mine, later rebuilt as a show mine for visitors.

A visitor centre was opened in 1992 and the centre was switched on to mains electricity in 1993.

Yesterday, the centre threw a party for people who played a part in its development and helped it collect a string of awards.

Five hundred balloons were launched, watched by guest speaker Hilary Armstrong, Government chief whip and MP for North-West Durham.

She said: "It's been a pleasure to watch Killhope grow and develop over the last 21 years into a major tourist attraction with a great reputation locally, nationally and now internationally."

Published: 21/05/2005