THE railways are bringing prosperity to the region once more in the form of a property boom.

Twenty years after one of the blackest days in the history of Shildon, County Durham, with the closure of the wagon works, property prices in the town are seeing a resurgence.

Part of the reason is the construction of Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, a partnership between Sedgefield Borough Council and the National Railway Museum.

Estate agents believe the museum, which will open in September, is giving Shildon national exposure, causing prices to double.

The £10m museum is expected to attract 60,000 visitors a year.

Carol Armstrong, of Armstrong Estate Agents, said: "I think it is a combination of the railway museum and the new look to Shildon.

"Shildon was hanging back, but has caught up with the rest of the region with one big movement, rather than gradually. It has just gone haywire.

"A lot of it has been really to do with investors from out of the area finding the prices were lowish compared to the rest of the country, and they are buying properties.''

Until a few months ago, two-bedroomed terraced houses in Shildon were bringing in between £30,000 and £35,000. Today, the same houses are worth between £60,000 and £65,000.

Shildon estate agent Martin Bage said: "I think it is likely that the railway museum has helped, but we are getting a lot of people coming from the South who are finding that the property is far cheaper here."

Councillor John Robinson, of Sedgefield Borough Council, said: "The continued economic regeneration of Shildon is very important to the authority, and we regard this new visitor attraction as a key to that process."