A COMMUNITY'S coal mining heritage will be honoured and preserved for generations to come with a new light sculpture.

The Chilton Prospect will express the former mining town's industrial heritage and explore significant dates in its history.

It will be made up of three columns and the bottom of each will represent heavy machinery drilling into a coal seam.

The middle sections will be a time-line, made up of rings representing stories and events that occurred in Chilton.

And the top section will be a glowing acrylic tower which will "light up as a beacon to the community".

Kay Henderson, a historian and community artist, is leading a series of workshops where the public can contribute to the timeline.

They will investigate historical dates, places and local names.

All members of the community, from Sure Start groups to youth clubs, the workingmen's club to church groups, will be invited to discover the history of Chilton, as well as family and personal time-lines.

Mrs Henderson said: "I feel that knowing one's past gives a greater understanding of the present and informs the future.

"Coming from a mining family myself, I am passionate about all aspects of the industry and the culture it produced."

The community workshops that Mrs Henderson will carry out will create a body of work, which will be incorporated into the design of the sculpture.

The finished piece will be designed by Simon Watkinson, a concept artist.

Mr Watkinson's work includes an LED light curtain at the Theatre Royal, in Newcastle.

The sculpture is being funded by Sedgefield Borough Council, Chilton Town Council and Durham County Council and is expected to be in place by March next year.

It is expected to be installed near the town's recently-redeveloped welfare park.

Katy Banner, arts development officer at the borough council, said: "Collecting facts and ideas at the workshops is just as important as the material itself."

For more information about the workshops, and the project itself, contact Emily Crallan on 01388-816166.