A FIRM of architects has won a contract to restore a prisoner of war camp featured on a TV programme.

Harperley PoW camp, near Wolsingham, in Weardale, will appear in a ten-part BBC series called Restoration.

The programme looks at 30 historic sites in the British Isles, with Heritage Lottery funds going to the site viewers vote as their favourite.

If Harperley wins the funding, John Niven Architects, of West Auckland, which has expertise in historic renovations, will carry out the conservation and repair of the Second World War camp, which is the first such site designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

John Niven said: "Planning permission has been granted to the owners to develop the site as a major visitor attraction and Second World War museum, which will bring welcome income to this hard-pressed dale."

The camp will be featured on the BBC2 programme on Tuesday, September 2.

The architects' firm, which is celebrating 20 years in business, has also won two other high-profile contracts in the region, one at Hardwick Park, Sedgefield, and the other for a 14th Century castle in Sunderland.

The company will provide the designs for the repair and rebuilding of three buildings in the 18th Century landscaped garden at Hardwick Park.

The work is part of a £7m restoration scheme involving the refilling of a 40-acre lake, and the construction of a visitor centre, to make the park a major attraction in the region.

At Hylton Castle, in Sunderland, the firm is aiming to help the Castle in the Community charity realise its dream of restoring the derelict and vandalised 14th Century structure.

The project, which will provide high-quality accommodation for a range of educational, heritage and social activities, and includes the conversion of the derelict St Catherine's Chapel nearby into a visitors' and reception centre, is expected to cost about £5m. It is hoped it will be completed by 2006.