Image: Stockton Council led the refurbishment

Preston Park Museum and Grounds has reopened its doors in Stockton-on-Tees following the completion of an extensive £7m renovation programme led by the local authority.

The revamp was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund; the Green Museums Programme, run by Renaissance North East; the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation; and Playbuilder.

A number of themed galleries explore the history of the Grade II-listed building and the wider borough, with visitors stepping back in time to 1895 to the museum's Victorian Street.

Elsewhere, an original Victorian kitchen garden has been restored and new learning facilities have been created. A craft resource and a demonstration kitchen are also on offer.

Stockton Council cabinet member for arts, leisure and culture Ken Dixon said: "Preston Park Museum and Grounds will be a truly inspirational visit for the whole family so come along and take a fresh look.

"The hall has emerged from its scaffolding shell and been transformed into a first-class 21st century museum inside a beautifully restored 19th century building."

Click here to learn more about the refurbishment of Preston Park Museum and Gardens.