AN initiative has been launched to make it easier for people to find out more about the region's railway history.

Angela Brockbank has been appointed the North-East's railway and heritage project officer, and will be based at Darlington Railway Centre and Museum.

Her main role will be to bring together the different areas of railway heritage in the region to highlight the area's status as the birthplace of the modern railways.

She said: "The project is in its early stages, but I am very excited about the opportunities that exist to raise the profile of railway heritage.

"I believe that the region's part in the railway revolution has never had the recognition it deserves.

"My challenge is to bring railway and its associated history into the foreground, where it rightly belongs."