A COMMUNITY arts project has united generations and increased awareness of local heritage.

The Creative Coundon - Forging a Future project, based at St Joseph's RC Primary School, has seen villagers of all ages from Coundon and Leeholme working together.

Using art, music and drama, residents have helped to preserve the area's rich industrial heritage and have produced several lasting memorials to its mining past.

Pitman painter Tom McGuinness designed a stained glass window, which was painted by Darlington artist Duncan Storr for the school.

Blacksmith and artist Graeme Hopper, of Hunwick, worked with history groups, residents and pupils to create a school fence decorated with mining images.

Musician Jez Lowe composed a Coundon song for the children to record. Theatre company Jack Drum Arts held theatre workshops and a book called from Cuna Dun to Coundon Now has been published.

At a celebration event held on Saturday, headteacher Stefa McManners said: "Community spirit is great because for the past year people from all walks of life have shared memories and ideas for the project.

"The children have more respect for the older generation. They can see how brave their own grandparents must have been to work in dangerous pits, and older people see how nice and interested the young ones can be."

The scheme was funded by a Heritage Lottery grant, Wear Valley District Council, a grant from the Forge Arts in Education Agency and Age Concern Durham County.