AN actor has told of his high hopes for a scheme to bring key events in the development of the railways to life.

Robin Ellwood is to appear at Darlington Railway Centre and Museum after enthusiasts secured a £14,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant to set up a three-year living history project.

The scheme gets under way next month and will see actors in period costume helping to teach youngsters about key moments in the development of the railways.

In each case, the museum, which is housed in an 1842 railway station and is home to the Locomotion No.1 steam engine, will provide the background for a variety of stories.

Schools throughout the borough will be able to take part in the Time Trackers project free of charge.

Mr Ellwood said yesterday: "It will give children a great chance to investigate their own local heritage.

"If it was not for the support of the railway centre and the borough council, the idea would never have taken off."

More than 300 children from local primary schools visited the museum last October for the pilot project.

The Time Trackers initiative will have an added bonus of supporting local acting talent.

"It is an opportunity for local actors to get work, rather than having to travel further afield," said Mr Ellwood.

The Time Trackers project will run for two weeks, twice a year, for the next three years.

This year's scheme starts on Tuesday, November 19.