A FORMER Sunday school will be the first port of call for the thousands of visitors expected to visit the region's first national museum when it opens in two years' time.

Sedgefield Borough Council has already taken over the building in Shildon, built in 1888, which will be used as a ticket office and visitor centre for the town's £7.7m offshoot of the National Railway Museum in York.

Work is under way to remove asbestos and weatherproof the building, which is opposite the Timothy Hackworth Museum.

The school was built by subscription during the boom years of the 19th Century, when the railways brought industrial prosperity to County Durham's towns and villages.

During both world wars it was used by the Army, providing both a enlisting centre and a billet for soldiers travelling the country.

By the time of the Second World War it was used as a clothing factory, which at one time made fire brigade uniforms.

S and E Cables took it over in 1992 and is moving to an industrial unit found for it by the council.

Detailed plans for the main museum are being submitted during the next few weeks. These include an 800m rail link from Timothy Hackworth to the new centre south of the railway bridge crossing Dale Road and Spout Lane.

Traders have welcomed the development, which was granted £4.9m if Heritage Lottery funding last week.

Shildon Chamber of Trade chairman Brian Stoker said: "We can't wait for this to finally happen because we can only see it benefiting Shildon.

"Everyone is very positive about it because it will bring visitors to the whole area. It is bound to be good for us.