TRADITIONAL crafts of spinning, weaving and dyeing will be portrayed in an exhibition opening later this week.

The near four-week long display takes place in the Galilee Chapel, at Durham Cathedral.

Staged to mark the 35th anniversary of the Durham Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers, members will be on hand to give working displays of a variety of techniques for spinning yarns and weaving.

It will also feature artefacts recovered from the River Wear, in Durham, by local diver Gary Bankead, including a number of old clothclips.

He has loaned them for the duration of the exhibition.

Guild members will also be performing demonstrations as part of a family fun day, staged at the nearby World Heritage Site visitor centre, in Owengate, Durham, on Sunday July 12, from 10am - 4pm.

The guild hopes both events will act as a potential recruiting tool for fresh blood to swell numbers.

Guild stalwart Angela Colbridge said: “We welcome new members and are always very willing to teach these skills to anyone wanting to learn.

“As a member there is access to equipment, so no-one need to buy expensive equipment until they know this is for them.

“We also welcome anyone already spinning or weaving to join what is a very sociable group of people.

“We hold workshops and talks as can be seen on our website and also go out demonstrating at local events.”

The Galilee Chapel exhibition runs from Saturday (July 4) until Thursday July