VOLUNTEERS are polishing up every nook and cranny of a piece of Darlington’s industrial heritage, ahead of a series of open days.

Tees Cottage Pumping Station, in Coniscliffe Road, will open its doors to the public for two weekends this month.

The pumping station, which volunteers say tells the entire history of water treatment on one site, will be open as part of the Heritage Open Days series of events, on Saturday and Sunday.

Among the attractions at the pumping station, which was built in 1849 to pipe water from the River Tees to homes in Darlington and Teesside , is a 110-year-old steam-powered boiler.

There is also a model railway track on the site.

Admission to the Heritage event is free, but there will be a small charge for the open days on September 15 and 16.

George Beautyman, secretary of the pumping station preservation society, said volunteers had worked hard to keep admission prices as low as possible, to offer visitors value for money.

Future developments at the site include a new toilet block, which is being funded by Northumbrian Water, which the society hopes will be available in time for next year’s events.