FESTIVITIES in the region will today celebrate the 175th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

The world's first passenger rail line, it was opened on this date in 1825, and celebrations will take place in the three main sites, Shildon, Stockton and Darlington.

In Shildon, almost 500 primary and pre-school children from the County Durham town will make the most of a special offer.

The Timothy Hackworth Victorian and Railway Museum has invited them to make a free visit, and they will all get a ride on a steam train to mark the occasion.

The main celebration in Stockton will be the unveiling of a plaque at the Town Hall, commemorating the opening of the railway at the venue, at which dignatories celebrated following the first passenger journey from Shildon.

In Darlington, museum chiefs have chosen the occasion to launch a new section.

Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, which will host a major festival for the anniversary this weekend, officially opens its educational resource centre.

Rooms at the museum have been converted into a classroom and schools will be able to visit, get a tour of the centre and learn more about the town's heritage.

Also being unveiled tonight are the centre's "new" toilets, but they will not be in service. The Victorian lavatory has been scrubbed up to standard as a visitor attraction for the centre, on North Road.

At Darlington Arts Centre, there will be an anniversary Dream of Steam concert by Martin Stephenson, the Moonshiners, Eddie Walker and Synergy, at 8pm.

Other events in Stockton include local musicians playing at the market place, Georgian Theatre and at HM Bark Endeavour at the Castlegate Quay.

In Finkle Street, just off the High Street, a full-size replica of Timothy Hackworth's Sans Pareil will be in steam.

Stockton and Darlington Railway: www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/railwa