FUNDRAISERS are nearing their target to secure an important memento reflecting part of Chester-le-Street's rich history.

Chester-le-Street Heritage Group wants to buy a copy of the Lindisfarne Gospels to display permanently in the town.

The group believes the town's role in the story of St Cuthbert and the gospels has largely been overlooked.

Yet the original manuscript, carried with the remains of the Northumbrian saint by the Lindisfarne monks fleeing Viking invaders, spent 112-years in what is now the parish church of St Mary and St Cuthbert. While there, they were first translated from Latin into Anglo-Saxon English.

The gospels left in 995AD when the monks made the six-mile journey south to what became Cuthbert's permanent resting place, on the site of what became Durham Cathedral.

Once the cathedral was built St Cuthbert's remains were buried in his tomb behind the altar in 1104.

The gospels were also kept at the cathedral until the Reformation in the sixteenth century when they were seized by Henry VIII.

Now on display in the British Library, there has been a long-running campaign to return the original to the North-East.

Although the British Library insists the gospels remain in its collection, it paid for accurate facsimile copies to be produced and presented both to the cathedral and to Lindisfarne Heritage Centre, last year.

The heritage group believes Chester-le-Street's links with the priceless manuscript should be recognised by having a copy, in what members believe, is its spiritual home.

A target of £10,000 was set to buy a copy with jewel-encrusted binding and display cabinet for the church.

Group secretary Edna Stokoe said the latest donation, £62.53 from a collection at St Cuthbert's Walk shopping centre, Chester-le-Street, took the total beyond £8,000.

She said: "We're grateful for all contributions. We've just got this last stretch to go and we hope to reach the total by the end of the year in what is the 900th anniversary of Cuthbert's tomb.

"This is something to celebrate. I think we've been sold short for so many years and yet this is something we should highlight to encourage more visitors to Chester-le-Street."

Donations can be made via (0191) 388 9380, with cheques made payable to 'Lindisfarne Gospel Appeal'.