VILLAGERS are hoping to create a new miners' banner.

A group is being formed at Brandon, near Durham City, to raise money and come up with designs for a replacement for a 1963 banner.

They want to parade it at the Durham Big Meeting.

The old banner, depicting a view of the Miners Gala on one side and a local bowling green on the other, was unfurled by former Labour leader Michael Foot.

The emblem ended up in Brandon, Canada, near Winnipeg, following the closure of Pit House Colliery in 1968.

It was returned to Brandon in 1999, thanks to the efforts of Doreen McMahon, secretary and manager of Brandon Community Hall, and was paraded at that year's gala and went on display at the hall.

Keith Hutchinson, who is organising the meeting with his wife, Barbara, and Keith Hutchings, who founded the banner group in nearby Browney, said time had taken its toll and the banner could no longer be paraded.

He said there was a lot of interest in the village in having a new banner that could be taken to next year's gala.

"We want to get as many people involved as we can. We are not going to decide what the banner design will be yet," he said.

He added that ideas could include featuring the 1963 design along with a new one.

The group's inaugural meeting will be on Thursday, at 7pm, in the Sycamore Park Community Hall. Everyone is welcome.