A PARTNERSHIP between two County Durham visitor attractions could allow a series of 17th Century masterpieces to remain where they have been housed for the past 250 years.

Discussions are under way between Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, and Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, to try and keep the Zurburan collection in its traditional home in the castle.

The Church of England is looking to sell the collection of 13 paintings to raise funds to subsidise cash-strapped dioceses and parishes around the country.

The value of the paintings has been estimated at anywhere between £3m to £24m.

The Church Commission has said it would favour keeping the paintings in the North-East and Bowes Museum has emerged as the favourite to buy them, at a possible cost of £10m.

However, in a new development it has been suggested the museum would buy the paintings but they would remain in the castle as part of a partnership business plan.

Durham County Council's cabinet is to discuss the proposal next week.

In a report to members, the council's director of culture and leisure, Patrick Conway, said that although the paintings are artistically significant, in the past they have had little popular appeal because of location and limited access.

He said: "There is a view that a robust plan and an active role for the Bowes in the management of Auckland Castle, could result in the castle becoming a major tourist and education centre.

"Were this the case, it has been suggested the Zurburans could stay where they are, and indeed be augmented with temporary loans from Bowes Museum."

A spokeswoman for the Bowes Museum said: "We've seen the report and we go along with what it says, but don't have anything more to add at this time."

A spokesman for the church commissioners also said he did not want to comment on the proposals until a final decision had been taken.

He added: "However, we've always taken the position that we acknowledge that the best destination for the Zurburans is for them to remain in the North-East."

The life-size paintings of Jacob and his 12 sons were brought to the castle in 1756 by Bishop Richard Trevor to promote religious tolerance towards Jews.

Twelve of the paintings were by Francisco de Zurburan, but the painting of the youngest son, Benjamin, is a copy as the original was owned by a private collector.