A CHARITY that offers people with learning disabilities the chance to express themselves through art has opened its own gallery.

Heart House Studios, based in Front Street, Lanchester, will be a permanent base for Real Lives: Real Choices.

The building includes a gallery, an information shop for the charity and a centre for recruiting and training volunteers.

The charity also works for the rights of people with learning disabilities in County Durham, and holds regular art classes for clients. Their work will be displayed and sold through the gallery.

Alison Russell, project manager, said: "We hope this will raise public awareness of issues for people with learning disabilities. We want to show that they are just as talented as everyone else.

"Heart House is a fusion of both the art and the advocacy that we do. It is helping people to speak up for themselves, but in a really expressive and colourful way."

The project to transform the centre, a former bookmakers, was given a boost in June, when volunteers from Northumbrian Water, based in Durham, gave their time to help with the task of revamping the building.

The charity has a two-year lease and is planning on exhibiting work by people with learning disabilities from across the UK.

Actors from Lawnmower Independent Theatre Company, based in Gateshead, performed the opening yesterday, in full costume from the Elvis Experience show.

The charity also officially opened a second smaller centre, in nearby Langley Park.