A YOUNG designer from a small North- East mining village is being tipped to set the fashion industry alight by experts in the sector.

Ross Williams was named as one of three to watch, and the only menswear designer, by The Guardian newspaper in its coverage of Graduate Fashion Week, in London.

Horse-inspired designs created by the 22-year-old, from Wingate, County Durham, were displayed on the catwalk at the Earl’s Court show.

Mr Williams will graduate from Kingston University, in London, this summer and a spokeswoman for the institution said: “He does seem to be one of the standout students.

“The Guardian named him as one of three to watch, and with the other two they picked out womenswear designers.

“Fifty colleges have stands at Graduate Fashion Week and a good number of those have catwalk shows.

“From all of these, for The Guardian to have picked him is a great accolade for Ross and we should hear a lot more about him.”