THE man charged with creating two new museums in Cleveland has been named.

Alan Pearce, currently curator of the Timothy Hackworth railway museum in Shildon, will take over as museums manager for East Cleveland.

One of his first briefings will be to consider proposals to sell the prestigious Kirkleatham Hall Museum and open a new venue at the stables in the historic village.

The new curator of Redcar and Cleveland Council will also help to organise the opening of Winkies Castle in Marske, the 18th-century terraced house crammed with artefacts bequeathed to the authority by cobbler Jack Anderson.

Mr Pearce will also be in charge of the Margrove Park Heritage Centre, near Guisborough.

The 42-year-old, who lives in Stillington, near Stockton, with his wife Alison, a teacher, and children Amy, 17, and 12-year-old Oliver, succeeds Phil Philo, who has become senior curator of the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum at Stewart Park, Middlesbrough.

Mr Pearce said: "I've known Phil Philo from museum circles for many years, visited Kirkleatham Hall with my family many times and I'm excited at the challenge. It's definitely promotion.

"My expertise is in industrial heritage, but now I'll be covering a wider scope, organising a much bigger collection, particularly with maritime history as well as rural and social history."

A former senior recreational development officer with Sedgefield Borough Council, Mr Pearce became the Hackworth museum manager 12 years ago.

He said: "I took over to close it down, but managed to turn it round and it's now in the process of dealing with a £7.9m development in partnership with the National Railway Museum - a huge transition."

Mr Pearce is expected to take up his appointment next month.