N-E museums make it into UK's top 20

Beamish Museum, near Chester-le-Street, and Newcastle's Discovery museum have been included in a list of Britain's top 20 attractions in The Good Britain Guide 2004.

The book gives the low- down on where to visit, eat and stay throughout the country, with readers contributing information about their favourite places.

The Discovery, the North-East's largest free museum, was named as Britain's Discovery Museum of the Year. It was praised for its galleries on the area's history and an interactive science maze.

Councillor Barney Rice, chair of Tyne and Wear joint museums committee, said: "We are delighted that the Discovery museum has been listed as one of the top visitor attractions in the country.

"When the latest improvements were opened this summer, almost 40,000 people visited in one month, proving that the museum is on target to become one of the most popular visitor attractions that the region has to offer."

It is nearing the completion of a £13m redevelopment programme. Next year, more galleries will open, exploring the history of the River Tyne and its industrial and maritime heritage.

The guide also cited Beamish as "amazingly ambitious", with costumed staff who "bring the place to life".

Miriam Hart, director of Beamish, said: "It is a great accolade for the museum and all the staff.

"Nominations come from the readers of the guide who have visited the museum and feel it deserving of the prestigious title of Living Museum of 2004."

The winners were announced on the day that heritage experts said the country's historical landscape needed billions of pounds in investment and better protection from ''unthinking development''.

Increasing road traffic and the use of inappropriate styles for properties in conservation areas also threaten England's rich array of ancient architecture, according to the Heritage Counts 2003 report.

Figures showed that 1,373 Grade I and Grade II listed buildings and monuments were recorded as "at risk".