WORK on a new £10m visitor attraction in Shildon will start within weeks.

Construction of the Shildon Railway Village, which is expected to attract up to 50,000 visitors to the area a year, is about to start in time to open in late 2004.

The new attraction will incorporate the Timothy Hackworth Museum - based at the former home of the railway pioneer.

The £4.8m contract to create a new National Collections Centre at the heart of the project has been awarded to Newcastle-based Balfour Beatty Construction.

The 6,000sq m building will house up to 60 vehicles from the National Railway Museum in York, which has teamed up with Sedgefield Borough Council for the venture.

Balfour Beatty Construction, which built the £86m University Hospital of North Durham, won the building contract for 12 months of work.

Designed by Manchester architects, Austin, Smith Lord, the project will be managed by Tyneside-based Turner and Townsend Project Management. The building will incorporate offices, workshops, retail and catering space.

Preparation work to create a visitor orientation area in a former Sunday school building at the entrance to the village and construction of a car park is already being carried out by Northallerton firm, Tom Willoughby Ltd.

Andrew Scott, head of the National Railway Museum, said: "This is a real landmark for Shildon Railway Village.

"Until now we have talked about our plans, we have talked about funding and we have talked about what it will all look like. But very soon people will be able to see the new building taking shape and can really start to look forward to visiting next year."

Norman Vaulks, chief executive of Sedgefield Borough Council, added: "This is an exciting time for Shildon, Sedgefield Borough and the region.

"We have seen the plans and will now be able to watch with pride as the Shildon Railway Village develops and takes shape."