A VILLAGE described as being "full of character" and charm will appear in the second episode of a new series on BBC Two tonight.

The coastal village of Staithes in North Yorkshire will take centre stage on the brand new series of Villages by the Sea.

The episode, which will air at 7pm, follows archaeologist Ben Robinson as he unearths its role in bringing the chemical industry to the North East.

Read more: The North East village that is set to appear on BBC Two tonight in new series

It follows on from another village in the region, Bamburgh in Northumberland, which featured in the first episode of series, last week.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

In tonight's episode, Mr Robinson will also speak to one local woman who will tell of the fascinating story of a cottage which survived one of the worst storms.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "Mr Robinson will us to the rugged coastline that surrounds Staithes in North Yorkshire.

"He reveals how the village, now a tourist hot spot, was at the forefront of a new chemical industry, which involved collecting wee from as far away as London.

"In the early nineteenth century Staithes was one of the largest East Coast fishing ports. Local fisherman John Cole, whose family has been in Staithes since the sixteenth century, shares stories of survival through hard times and explains why there are so many chapels in the village.

"Ben visits Staithes local Diana Sharples, owner of a cottage on the seafront that survived a battering from one of the worst winter storms.

"With the help of fellow archaeologist Caroline Barrie-Smith and Dr Chris Gaffney's hi-tech surveying technology, Ben finds quarries and tunnels which were once part of an operation vital to the clothing industry."

The episode will also be able to view on the BBC iPlayer by clicking here.