A £100,000 renovation scheme is under way at a familar landmark on the outskirts of Darlington.

The Tees Cottage Pumping Station, in Coniscliffe Road, which is more than 150 years old, was built to pump clean water from the Tees to Darlington town centre.

Money from Northumbrian Water and English Heritage is being used to make sure the pump's roof and guttering are watertight.

Although the pumping station is not in regular use, it is put into steam on special tourist days throughout the year and attracts many visitors from all over the region.

A spokesman for Northumbrian Water said: "It is important to us to maintain the pumping station so it can be enjoyed by generations to come.

"It has been here such a long time that it needed important repair and renovation work.

"English Heritage gave £20,000 to the project and we provided the remaining funds.

"We really want to take care of this important part of our heritage."

The pumping station, which is a listed building, is covered in scaffolding while the work to the walls an the basic structure gets under way.

In its heyday, the station pumped 2.4 million gallons of water a day and required six tons of coal to keep it operating.

It was converted to gas power in 1914, then electricity in 1926.

In 1974, it came under the control of Northumbrian Water and six years later ceased full-time working.

The spokesman said: "No work has been carried out on the buildings since they came under the control of Northumbrian Water and they were in a far from perfect condition then.

"The oldest building dates from 1849 and the most recent is dated 1904, so they need a lot of work on them.

"Basically, the work will start at the top and move down, mending and painting anything that needs doing."

The work is expected to be completed by Easter, when the pumping room will open for the weekend.

The spokesman said: "I hope visitors will be pleased with the pumping station's new look. It is work that is well overdue."