A VICTORIAN waterworks opened its doors to the public at the weekend to showcase the pinnacle of 19th century engineering.

Visitors were also able to look around a number of vintage motorbikes and cars or take a ride on the miniature railway.

And more than 550 people took advantage of the open day at the weekend.

The Tees Cottage Pumping Station which was established in 1849, off Darlington’s Coniscliffe Road, was used to supply clean water to the town and surrounding areas.

Residents had previously relied on wells, rainwater tubs and hand pumps for water before the Victorian steam-powered beam pumps of European significance were installed.

The site operated by Northumbrian Water now opens to the public a handful of times each year.

A spokesman for the pumping station said: "More than 550 visitors across the weekend and nearly 2,200 visitors for the year. A great big thank you to everyone who has come to see us this year and to the volunteers without which we couldn't open the doors.

"It has been a tremendous effort by what is really a small team to staff all of the areas to make it as enjoyable visit as possible."