AN author has been appointed to write about one of Teesside's most historic areas.

Bob Beagrie has been named as writer in residence on the Headland in Hartlepool, as part of a project to research and record the area's heritage.

He will organise workshops for schools and help them write articles about the past and potential future of the area.

The most interesting articles will then be included in a book about the dockside area.

Mr Beagrie, 36, used to work for Creative Partnerships, a creative writing initiative involving 20 Tees Valley schools.

He said: "The main aim of the project is to make the Headland's heritage more accessible both to local residents and to visitors to the area, and so help raise the area's profile.

"I'm really looking forward to working with the local community to unearth the area's rich history, including exploring some of the contrasts between recorded history and oral history or folklore.

"We'll also be aiming to tap into a range of other sources of information, including family histories and people's memoirs."

Mr Beagrie will work closely with the Headland History Group, Tees Archaeology and Headland Future youth group. His work will part of a much larger project on the Headland being funded by the North Hartlepool Partnership, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Arts Council.

The research will be used in the development of a story trail around the Headland, complete with signs.

Topics are likely to include the area's medieval and Christian heritage, the 1914 bombardment of the Headland and the famous tale of the hanged monkey. The project will also work on historic maps.