PENSIONERS who live in a care home have provided snapshots from their family albums to create a social history exhibition.

Their photographs of picnics, weddings, seaside holidays, school events and social gatherings are being used to highlight decades of everyday life around Barnard Castle.

Margaret Callender, an administrator at the Beaconsfield Court care centre in the town, asked the 31 residents to find their favourite snaps.

The residents have given her more than 150, ranging from small sepia prints from the late 1800s to a large number from the 1930s and 1940s.

Ms Callender said: "Between them they give a brilliant insight into how families have lived in this area over the past century or so.

"They show the people, their fashions and pastimes quite vividly.

"Many of the snapshots were taken on little box Brownies, but I've been struck by the high quality of the photography, with excellent composition of the groups and a clear view of the faces."

She is so impressed with the standard, that she called in well-known artists John Degnan and Chris and Val Mouncey, to prepare a permanent exhibition.

Final touches will be put to the exhibition on Wednesday, March 23, and there will be a preview day for the residents and their families on Sunday, April 10.

Ms Callender said: "The exhibition will be on here permanently but I also hope it will be taken out to village halls in Teesdale from time to time.

"I'd like to think it will be kept together for many decades to come, so that everyone will be able to see how people lived in this district during this era."