A historic battery that helped to protect the North-East coast from the German Navy in the First World War has reached a major milestone in its restoration.

The second of two massive guns was lifted back into place at Heugh Gun Battery on Hartlepool's Headland yesterday in a project to restore it to its former glory.

A dedicated group of local historians, who call themselves the Heugh Gun Battery Trust, has restored the battery over the last five years.

Yesterday, as the 20-tonne, 4.7in calibre turret gun was lifted into place, they said they could finally see their hard work pay off.

Trust chairman John Southcott said: "This is a very proud day for us and a tribute to all the hard work by the trust's volunteers and the organisations that have supported us.

"This gives us the only battery in the country with its full complement of guns, aside from those on display on the South coast, such as in Portsmouth."

The battery, which dates back to 1900, earned a place in history when it returned fire during the bombardment of Hartlepool by the Imperial German Navy in December 1914.

It was decommissioned in 1956, with its guns having being scrapped in the 1930s.

The restoration project has been given support by the North Hartlepool Partnership, which is using money from One NorthEast to revitalise the Headland.

Both guns, which have a range of 20 miles, have been given on permanent loan by English Heritage and are very rare. They date from the Second World War and are the closest possible match to the original ones.

The battery is open to the public on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm and admission is free.