TRADITIONAL rug-making skills can be viewed alongside examples of the finished product at a County Durham museum.

Craftswoman Heather Ritchie and some of her star pupils are displaying the art of rug-making for visitors to the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Durham Art Gallery.

Live demonstrations are taking place every afternoon to accompany an exhibition of rugs produced by Ms Ritchie and members of her Clayport Matters workshop.

She works from her Shades of Heather studio at Reeth, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, but also runs the twice-weekly craft sessions at Durham's Clayport library.

Elsie Wood, who has acquired her skills at the classes, said: "There are a few of us who are coming in every afternoon during the exhibition so people can see how the mats are made.

"We are producing traditional hooky and proggy mats and we even let visitors have a go themselves."

The exhibition is at the museum, in Aykley Heads, Durham, until Sunday, August 22. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and the demonstrations are between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

Meanwhile, the Clayport Matters rug-making workshop programme resumes next month, on Mondays and Thursdays.

There is a £25 charge for the ten-week course. To enrol, call 0191-386 4003.

Published: 13/08/2004