A EUROPEAN accolade for the region's world class geological heritage will bring benefits to a County Durham museum.
The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is the first in the country to be awarded the status of European Geopark by Unesco.
Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum, lies in the heart of the AONB in Weardale and was one of the organisations that worked towards achieving the designation which is excepted to boost tourism.
Ian Forbes, Killhope manager, said the museum played a part on a steering group from the North Pennines AONB Partnership which drew up the bid for the status.
He said: "We're all very pleased that our work has come to fruition. It's an accolade for the region which will no doubt bring tourism benefits to the AONB and to Killhope.
"Killhope will have a key role in developing sustainable tourism based on this designation."
The award recognises the world renouned rock formations and minerals in the AONB, which covers large parts of Durham, Northumberland and Cumbria.
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