A FORMER pit village is looking forward to this year's Durham Miners Gala, when it will parade its banner for the first time in many years.

Craghead's emblem - distinctive because of a mistake by its maker - will be among the bevy of new banners that will be carried through the streets of Durham on Saturday, July 9, after a long absence from the Big Meeting.

The Craghead Development Trust has carried out a £30,000 project to restore the banner, which features a view of Durham Cathedral - with the River Wear flowing the wrong way - and to make a replica that can be paraded.

The original was made in 1962 for Craghead Colliery, which was closed seven years later.

The banner was transferred to Blackhall Colliery, in east Durham, where it was kept for many years before returning to Craghead, but has suffered from the passage of time.

Although it has been restored, it will not be strong enough to take on parade, hence a replica has been made. Both will be kept in cases at Craghead Village Hall where villagers can view them.

The development trust received a £26,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £1,000 from Derwentside District Council's community resource fund and raised the rest of the money itself.

The trust says the project will give local people access to an important part of their heritage and act as a constant reminder of the toil and sacrifice of their forefathers who laboured for King Coal.

The trust has previously paid tribute to the village's past by creating a miner's lamp and a miners' memorial.

Janice Docherty, chairwoman of the trust, said: "This is the most important heritage project we have worked on, as the banner is part of every family in Craghead's history.

"We feel that this will make another contribution towards preserving and celebrating the mining communities of Durham. It will be a very proud day when we take our banner to the Miners Gala."

The trust is organising coaches to the gala and is hoping for a big turn-out - although the banner will not be accompanied by Craghead Colliery Band, which went on to be the award-winning Ever Ready and now Reg Vardy Band, after the pit closed. The band is booked to accompany another banner.

People will be able to see the restored banner on Friday, in the village hall, at 10am, when Vivian Lockhead, of the National Museum of Labour History, will talk about how she conserved it and will answer questions from the audience.

That will be followed on Tuesday, June 14 at 10am, also in the village hall, by a general talk on banner-making by John Midgley, of the firm Chippenham Designs. People will be able to see the replica on display.

The village hall will also be the venue for the official launch event, a buffet, on Friday, June 17, at 6pm for 6.30pm.

On Big Meeting Day, the replica banner will be taken through the city centre streets to the racecourse and, after the speeches, will be blessed during the traditional service in Durham Cathedral.