A STAINED glass window designed and made with the help of villagers has been installed in their local hall.

Sixteen people living in Barningham, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, worked with artist Joanna Hedley, from Newcastle, to make the £5,000 three-panel window for the hall.

Each of the volunteers - who ranged in age from 30 to 70 - attended two five-hour classes run by Ms Hedley at the hall.

They learned how to cut small circles of coloured glass, which were then fired and incorporated into their design for the window panels.

They depict the scenery around Barningham with the hills and winding roads.

Ms Hedley said she enjoyed working on the window and hoped the residents' designs would give them a greater sense of ownership.

She said: "I think the section of the window featuring the circles is particularly successful and the people who took part should be proud of their achievements."

The new window was needed after the frame of the old plain-glass one began to rot.

Joyce Brown, a member of the village hall committee, said: "Making the stained glass was something I've never done before and it was really, really successful.

"Someone remarked how absorbed everybody was in making them.

"The window looks really beautiful and I'm really pleased with it."

Ms Hedley is holding another two workshops to allow residents to design and make their own small windows.

She is also in the process of designing a marriage window for the nearby St Michael and All Angels Church, in Barningham, which is expected to be fitted this autumn.

The window will be the first thing newly-married couples will see as they leave the church. The abstract design of interlinking circles and flowers is intended to represent love and marriage.

The village hall window was funded by grants from Awards for All and the RPA Small Projects Fund, administered by Durham County Council, as well as local fund-raising.

A party to launch the window is being held in the hall on Monday, May 30, from 11am to 1pm.