NEW projects could breathe life into a North Tyne tourist attraction threatened with closure.

The Heritage Centre at Bellingham has received a Lottery grant of £9,990 for a new project examining territorial training camps in the area during World War One.

And now volunteers are hoping to boost their numbers by encouraging others to get involved.

The Heritage Centre has faced an uncertain future due to a lack of volunteers in recent times.

The Lottery-funded project, which began in September, was prompted by the discovery of some army photographs found in the centre’s archives.

David Walmsley, who is working on the project alongside five other core volunteers, said: “The story goes that after the Boer War the Government realised that the existing army was not strong enough so the Territorial Force was born.

“According to local folklore, two training camps were set up, one in Bellingham and one at Redesdale, after Churchill visited Lord Redesdale and said the area would be better suited for bigger guns.”

In the archives, volunteers found photos of a training camp outside Bellingham, of which very little was known.

David added: “It is believed that it was a temporary camp where territorials from Newcastle, Edinburgh and Manchester came to train for a week before going to the Redesdale camp.

“We have found some great photos of the Territorials in Bellingham marching to the station to go to the front line.”

With their findings, The Heritage Centre plans to produce a children’s book for all children across the North Tyne and Rede Valleys which will hopefully be ready by Easter.

An exhibition of the work will be held at the centre in the summer for six to eight weeks and will be made available for people to exhibit around the area.

David said: “This project is unique. A lot of research talks about men going to war but there is little information about the Territorial training camps at home.

“It has been fascinating to work on because you never know what you’re going to come across.

“We were delighted when we found out about the funding. It’s great to know the Lottery recognised we have a worthwhile project.

“Without it we would not have been able to share our knowledge and research.”

However, the funding is no use if the Heritage Centre doesn’t have sufficient volunteers.

There is a desperate need for museum guides and people with experience in managerial work, marketing, events, admin and publicity.

David said: “We rely entirely on volunteers; without them we would not survive.

“We are hoping these new projects will raise awareness of what it is that we do.”

The Heritage Centre at Bellingham is one of three Tynedale projects to receive National Lottery grants last year.

Newly revealed figures show that more than £2.1m of National Lottery funding – equal to 44 grants – was awarded across Tynedale last year, providing a vital boost to arts, sports and heritage projects and community groups.

Bardon Mill and Henshaw Village Community Projects received £9,511 to improve and update facilities and redesign its website.

Meanwhile £9,950 went to Friends of Prudhoe Woods to hold conservation days where local people will carry out improvements to the woods and deliver activities for young people.