Redeveloped Tynemouth Station gets royal reopening

The Princess Royal unveils a plaque at Tynemouth Station

Tynemouth Station is to be officially reopened by the Princess Royal after being extensively restored.

She will unveil a plaque at the 130-year-old Victorian landmark later.

The grade II listed building has undergone a £3.68m grant-aided restoration, including £1.9m from the government's Sea Change programme.

The work has included putting 4,600 new panes of glass into the station's canopies.

Funding was also provided by North Tyneside Council, Station Developments Limited, English Heritage and Nexus.

'Phoenix rising'

The princess will meet the partners involved in the scheme, the restoration project team, community groups, local schoolchildren and Tynemouth market traders.

Elected Mayor for North Tyneside Linda Arkley said: "The transformation of Tynemouth Station is a true tale of a heritage phoenix rising from the ashes.

"It is a fabulous monument to Victorian architecture that has been rescued from collapse, reshaped and reinvented for the 21st Century.

"Now that it has been given a new lease of life, I hope that it continues to serve and inspire the local community, artists and visitors for the next 130 years."