EUROPEAN visitors are paying a fact-finding visit to County Durham's cultural hot spots.

Groups from the county's twin areas of Kreis Wesel, in Germany, and Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, in Hungary, are touring Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland Town Hall and King James I Community Arts College, where they will present a cheque to the Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans tomorrow afternoon.

They are also being shown around the award-winning Clayport Library, in Durham City, and meeting MEP Fiona Hall.

In Durham, they will also learn about the Durham Brass Festival, Sky Bowl and Durham City Vision and visit St Hild's CE Primary School to see a project with the Forge Arts.