Eston Nab re-opened to the public after being bought by The Friends of Eston Hills

Bottles of bubbly were popped and the contents sprayed on to cheering crowds as Eston Nab was officially returned to public ownership

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Eston Nab is handed over to the public

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It was a proud moment for many as Eston Nab was officially returned to public ownership.

Bottles of bubbly were popped and the contents sprayed on to cheering crowds as a ribbon tied around the Teesside landmark was cut.

The Friends of Eston Hills have made history by buying the section of the historic Eston Hills with donations totalling £15,000.

“We dared to dream,” said Craig Hornby, chairman of The Friends of Eston Hills. “We went for it and, incredibly, got a result.”

As previously reported, Lazenby Bank - the 214-acre site that was once part of the Wilton Castle estate - was put on the market for £425k last September.

Whale Hill Primary School teaching assistant Rita Richardson sparked interest on Facebook and within days had teamed up with Craig, director of the acclaimed documentary on Eston’s mining history, A Century in Stone.

Together, they founded The Friends of Eston Hills and launched an urgent fundraising campaign with the aim to get the site publicly-owned.

Craig tracked down the County Durham-based landowner, gave him a DVD and begged him not to sell to anyone just yet. Some 50 letters and DVDs then went out asking for support.

Hundreds of online donations soon poured in and people held sponsored events so that by December 12, £15,000 had been raised.

“And even though it wasn’t enough to buy any of the eight lots, a bid was put in for Lot 1 - the eastern half of Eston Nab and 45 acres of hillside, priced at £80,000. The group was then, amazingly, offered Eston Nab.

“After the best part of 1,000 years, if not more, we now officially return Eston Nab back to the people in full and for all time,” said Craig at a re-opening ceremony on Saturday.

“This land is now public land for everyone, for ever.”

The guest of honour at the event was Daphne Haverson, 80, whose late father, Charlie Burdett, lived in the old Beacon tower at Eston Nab in the 1920s.

“This is a very proud moment for me,” she said. “It is also a very emotional one. My father would feel the same.”

Daphne, along with Charlie’s great-great-grandchildren, cut the ribbon.

The Friends now plan to pursue more funding so they can buy more of the site and embark on a clean-up, conservation and heritage programme.

“We have got big plans that will go on,” said Craig. “With a bit of luck this is just the start.”