THE history of the Headland area of Hartlepool is to come under the spotlight in an exhibition.

Last autumn, Bob Beagrie was appointed writer in residence at the Headland, as part of a wider project to research, record and celebrate the area's heritage.

Since then, he has been working with schools, youth groups, residents, the Headland History Group and Tees Archaeology to help them research and write stories about the the area's history, heritage and folklore, for inclusion in a community history book called St Hilda's Isle.

The book will be published later this year, but some of the research, stories and photographs from the project are to feature in an exhibition.

Made up of a series of display boards, plus images transferred to silk screens, the exhibition covers Headland history from the Saxon and Viking periods, through medieval times to the First and Second World Wars.

It will take place in the atrium of Borough Hall, at the Headland, from Monday to May 24, and then at the central library from June 14 to 28.

Mr Beagrie said: "There has been an excellent response to the project from people of all ages on the Headland. They are tremendously proud of their heritage, and it has been a pleasure to work with them.

"It is just a small sample of the material we're preparing for the book, which will feature some little-known historical facts, beautiful illustrations and photographs as well as some very powerful personal stories."

Mr Beagrie's work is part of a larger project on the Headland, funded by the North Hartlepool Partnership.

The research will be used as the basis for a story trail around the Headland.