A TEES town will soon have a new art centre.

Warehouse buildings dating from the 18th and 19th Centuries in Stockton town centre are being transformed into a privately-run arts and culture centre.

The West Row buildings will offer workshops for artists, with facilities including glass and ceramic kilns and potters' wheel and finished work will be displayed in an attic gallery.

Members of the public will be invited to take part in taster sessions and courses once the premises are fully operational later in the year.

Public money, totalling £118,000 from English Heritage and Stockton Borough Council has been allocated to the refurbishment over five years.

Some of the original features, such as the gas lighting fixtures, will be retained during the renovation of both a 1850s building, part of which was built in the 18th Century and an adjoining 1877 warehouse. The renovation is being part funded by a heritage grant.

Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council's cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: "I can't wait to see it open as both a hub for community artists and a facility which anyone with an interest in art, or families who would like to participate in arts-based activities, can enjoy."

West Row Arts owner, Derek Wilson, said: “As we start our venture with this family business in Stockton, we are pleased to see these restoration works bring so many of the original features back to life. I’m delighted we were able to work with local contractors and suppliers to authentically restore the buildings for at least another 150 years.”

Surrounding the buildings is a courtyard cobbled with scoria blocks. A huge original double leaf front door has been retained. Exposed timber in the attic has been kept and pinned to the wood are newspaper cuttings dating back to the 18th Century.

The attic will be used to showcase glass and ceramic art and the vast second floor will be a production area housing a kiln and potters wheels. The first floor will be the fine art and illustration area. A raised ground floor will be opened up to the public who will be invited in sample taster sessions in art.

The main building was originally R Blakey and Son Stationers and Printers but it has been used as an ironmongers, hosiers and most recently a fabric shop until 2003.