WINKIES Castle is opening to the public this Easter for the first time.

The cottage, in the High Street, Marske, was owned by the late cobbler and collector Jack Anderson, who named it after his cat.

Mr Anderson's collection of more than 2,000 items, were donated to Kirkleatham Museum, in Redcar, three months ago and volunteers have spent about 850 hours cataloguing his collection.

Among the curios are rare photographs, including pictures of an early fire engine fighting a farm blaze.

Mr Anderson, who died in 2001, also collected a ship's ledger from 1934, agricultural tools and part of a Second World War sea mine that was washed up on Redcar beach.

Visitors can see a display on the plans for Winkies Castle inside the cottage over Easter.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's museum curator Alan Pearce said:"We're ready to invite the public into the downstairs rooms so they can see what plans we have in store. But they mustn't expect to see any exhibitions or displays - that will come later in the year.

"None of this would have been possible without the fantastic efforts of the Friends of Winkies Castle, who have given so much of their time to help achieve the goal of opening the cottage as a museum."

Opening hours will be: Easter Saturday, 10am to 5pm; Easter Sunday, 2pm to 5pm and Easter Monday, 10am to 5pm. Admission is free.

Call Gordon Fisher on (01642) 489489 for more details.