HELP is being offered to people wanting to research their mining history.

The Durham Miner Project is starting 14 courses in County Durham libraries and community centres from Monday.

Courses beginning next week will run on Mondays at Thornley Library, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm; on Tuesdays, at Bowburn Library, from 10am to noon; on Wednesdays at Newton Aycliffe Library, from 1pm to 3pm, and Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery, Durham from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

From Thursday, the course will be held at Annfield Plain Library, from 3pm to 5pm and Wolsingham Library from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

It will run from Friday at Stanley Library, from 10am to noon, at Clayport Library, Durham City, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Woodhouse Close Library, Bishop Auckland, from 2pm to 4pm, Chester-le-Street Library, from 2pm to 4pm, and at Shelley Court, Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

From Tuesday, January 20, the course will take place at Wingate Family Centre, from 12.45pm to 2.45pm. Further classes start at Ferryhill Library on Wednesday, January 21, from 10.15am to 12.15am and at Sedgefield library from 10am to noon on Thursday, January 22.

Courses are held subject to demand. For details call 0191-383 4478 or visit the www.durham-miner.org.uk website.