THE campaign to preserve the North-East's disappearing railway heritage received a much-needed shot in the arm last night, when a local authority pledged £100,000 to promote the region's industrial history.

Darlington Borough Council agreed to make the money available for the development of the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum.

The centre is on the route of the world's first public passenger-carrying steam railway from Stockton to Darlington.

Last year, The Northern Echo highlighted the potential of this untapped treasure and the significant effect it could have on the region's economy, launching the Treasuring Our Railway Heritage campaign.

Darlington and Sedgefield borough councils, and the Northumbria Tourist Board, commissioned a study into the viability of using the region's railway heritage as a tourism tool.

And the five-year plan to redevelop the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, culminating in a bid for World Heritage Site status, was discussed by the town's council last night.

Darlington mayor Councillor Dorothy Long said: "The museum before was not particularly interesting and appealed mainly to railway buffs but not to the wider audience.

"There are already small changes in place which have begun to address this."

Initial work will include changes to the building and its 15-acre setting, plus a new toy gallery, toilets for the disabled and an eating area. The cabinet meeting heard how it was hoped to attract 80,000 visits to the museum a year by 2006.

John Buxton, director of development at the council, said: "By making the most of Darlington's railway heritage assets and focusing on the long-term development of tourism, realising the potential of the Railway Museum will contribute to the development and promotion of Darlington as a quality contemporary visitor destination."

Cabinet members approved the museum development plans, agreed to commit the £100,000 and agreed that further funding should be applied for from Heritage Lottery Funds.

The decision will go before the ratification committee on February 27 for final approval.