A TOWN mayor from Lapland is joining guests at a Christmas charity concert this weekend.

Matti Ansala, mayor of the Finnish town of Rovaniemi, will be attending a charity concert for the Feast of St Nicholas in Durham Cathedral today.

Rovaniemi in Lapland is the traditional home of Father Christmas.

Mr Ansala, escorted by the Mayor of Durham, Mary Hawgood, will be accompanied by Aaro Lehtoniemi, the director of the Christmas Foundation in Rovaniemi.

Durham, whose annual Christmas Festival also takes place this weekend, has been selected as the town in the UK that best matches Rovaniemi for festive spirit.

Readings will be given by journalist Kate Adie, Look North news presenter Carol Malia and the Duchess of Northumberland.

Tickets for the concert are £30 with pre-event reception at 6.30pm and free parking space; or £12 and £8 for the main concert at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available from St Cuthbert's Hospice on 0191- 386 1170.

Published: 03/12/2004