Two heritage schemes designed to preserve the legacy of engineer Robert Stephenson have been handed Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) support worth more than £25,000.

The Robert Stephenson Trust (RST) has been awarded £12,500 for the creation of a new touring exhibition, which will visit a number of venues throughout the Tyne and Wear region. Meanwhile, the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers (NEIMME) has received nearly £13,000 to help make the trust's collection of books and papers available to the public.

Ivor Crowther, head of HLF North East, said: "Taken together, these two projects will help to underwrite the legacy of Robert Stephenson and ensure that his many achievements in engineering and transportation are not only appreciated, but also introduced to a new generation." NEIMME president Malcolm Tilley added: "Housing the trust's book collection compliments our own collection entirely and highlights the common ancestry and links between the railways and coal industry."