Film fans are being given the chance to visit one of Tyneside's most famous movie locations before it is knocked down.

Gateshead Council is holding open days at a number of its unusual and interesting buildings, as part of Heritage Open Days 2002.

Among those being opened are the Gateshead multi-storey car park, and the Swing Bridge, both of which feature in classic 1971 thriller Get Carter.

The building is earmarked for demolition as part of the ongoing regeneration of the town centre.

It is great for fans that there are these two locations they can visit which are rarely open to the public

Chris Riley, Get Carter Appreciation Society

A spokesman for Gateshead Borough Council, said: "This is a chance to view the, normally inaccessible, upper floors of this 1960s landmark made famous by Michael Caine's classic British film."

The top floors on the car park, designed by renowned architect Owen Luder, are no longer in use because of fatigue to the concrete.

When it was built in the late 1960s it was envisaged that the top floor would be used as a restaurant, providing panoramic views of Tyneside.

'Iconic building'

However health and safety objections at the time meant this plan never went ahead, and the restaurant never opened.

It was used however for a number of memorable scenes, including one where Caine, as Jack Carter, throws Cliff Brumby, played by Bryan Mosley, off the top of the car park.

Chris Riley, founder of the Tyneside-based Get Carter Appreciation Society, told BBC News Online: "It is a fantastic building. It is a really nostalgic structure, and has a lot of character.

The proposed rooftop restaurant never opened

"It is a really iconic 1960s building. If you look across the Tyne from Newcastle city centre it dominates the skyline.

"The plan for the restaurant was never going to go ahead, there was no running water or toilet facilities.

"There was also no access for ambulances or fire engines.

"I would like it to stay. It may be ugly but it has so much character.

"It is probably one of the last places in the country where you can see a classic piece of 1960s architecture."

The car park open days are on Friday, 13 September, and Monday, 16 September, from 1000 BST to 1600 BST, with tours every 45 minutes - pre-booking is essential.

Historic buildings

Get Carter buffs can also visit inside the motor room of the Grade 1 listed Swing Bridge, built in 1875, and which also features in the film.

In the movie Carter buys heroin on the bridge, which he later uses to kill his dead brother's girlfriend Margaret.

Mr Riley said: "It is great for fans that there are these two locations they can visit which are rarely open to the public."

The open day features other historic buildings across the Gateshead borough.