EXHIBITION organisers have pulled out all the stops to keep live music in one of the region's oldest churches.

More than 170 paintings have been collected for the display in St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, where the parish church organ needs a complete overhaul.

Parishioners need to raise more than £100,000 to restore the 100-year-old organ.

They increased their target by 7.5 per cent so they could also buy a new roof for a partner church in Kibi, Ghana.

Father Robert McTeer said: "As well as rebuilding the organ, we wanted to remember people who are not so blessed as we are. The church in Ghana has a growing congregation and needs a bigger building."

Amateur and professional artists are contributing to the display which is in the parish centre, behind the church, today, from noon to 5pm. All the paintings are for sale and admission is free