A NEWLY refurbished museum is on track to meet its target of increasing visitor numbers by 50 per cent.

Preston Hall Museum, in Preston Park, Eaglescliffe , welcomed nearly 50,000 visitors in the seven weeks after it reopened on July 27, following a £7m refurbishment.

A spokeswoman said: "This sees the museum on track for its target of 150,000 visitors for the first full year of reopening, an increase of 50 per cent compared with the last full year pre-development."

The £7m invested by Stockton Borugh Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund was also spent on improving the park, which is one of the most used attractions in the Tees Va lley.

The hall, a Grade IIlisted building, was built the same year as the world's first passenger railway from Shildon to Stockton in 1825. The railway line skirted the edge of the grounds.

For more information, visit prestonparkmuseum.co. uk or call 01642-527335.