Young people living in underprivileged parts of the North East have been given the chance to explore and celebrate local histories.

This is thanks to a new grant scheme launched by Historic England.

The History in the Making fund, aimed at 13 to 25-year-olds, allows these individuals to unearth and highlight aspects of their heritage that have been previously ignored.

Historic England is welcoming funding applications from North East youth groups wanting to explore intriguing narratives and having inventive suggestions for place markers to memorialise them.

Ellen Harrison, Historic England's participation and learning director, said: "Heritage has the power to improve people’s lives and can give local communities a sense of identity.

"We are looking to fund projects in areas of deprivation in the North East that will empower young people to tell inspiring stories and create a lasting legacy that will instil local pride."

History in the Making was first introduced in Northern England last year with 11 funded initiatives including an audio celebration of South Tyneside’s mining heritage and a pizza oven inspired by the inhabitants of Hadrian’s Wall in Newcastle.

More information about History in the Making and past funded projects can be found on the Historic England website.