Photos celebrate community as part of rail birthday

A railway marking its 200th anniversary is celebrating "extraordinary" women and non-binary people from across the north-east of England.

The Hope Brigade exhibition consists of 26 images – the same number of miles as the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) line - and messages from the subjects.

Women of the World (WOW), which is running the project with S&DR, said it honoured those helping to improve the lives of people in their local communities and beyond.

It can be viewed at railway museum Locomotion in Shildon until 24 March when it will travel to Newcastle and a version is also on display in Durham City Centre before moving to Middlesbrough Station.

The exhibition forms part of a year-long festival, featuring outdoor and indoor events, focusing on how the arrival of the railways transformed the world, with themes of community, pioneers and unsung heroes.

Head of Locomotion Sarah Price was one of the chosen nominees and had her photograph taken in front of 200-year-old locomotive, Locomotion No 1.

She said it was "very humbling" to have been recognised as a leader and she wanted to inspire others.

The subjects also include a campaigner for the rights of crime victims, a foster parent, a poet and neurodiversity activist, an ambassador for heritage dance and the owner of the UK's largest independent travel agency.

Here are some of their stories.

Lizzie Lovejoy, a poet, performer and picture maker describes the north of England as their "inspiration".

On the theme of hope - reflecting the exhibition's title - they said: "Cinderella, knowing there would be an ending, was brave enough to start.

"We're the ones who build the future, we have all the parts.

"Hope isn't simply an emotion, it's the stuff that creates hearts - so we will don our glass slippers and march out through the clarts."

Ann Ming MBE successfully campaigned for a change in the double jeopardy law after her daughter's killer confessed but, due to the 800-year-old law, could only be tried for perjury.

She said: "All victims and their families need the justice they deserve.

"What I've campaigned for wasn't just for me, it is for families in the future.

"The work is not done - double jeopardy laws still need to change worldwide, and I'm hoping my story creates a drive for that change."

Emi Imai is founder of Boro Doughnut CIC, which champions doughnut economics principles, a framework for sustainable development.

Its aim is to build a "thriving Middlesbrough through community action" and working together as a community.

Imai said: "We weave community through collaboration and creativity, where kindness to people and the planet becomes visible action.

"Every connection made, every skill shared, every community endeavour is one small step towards Middlesbrough thriving within the doughnut – creating fond memories along the way."

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.