PLANS to bring a town's hidden history to light will be unveiled this week.

Chester-le-Street Heritage Group, the district council and other organisations have been working for months to develop a heritage trail through the town.

In Saxon times, Chester-le-Street was the capital of the county and the church's administration centre for the North-East.

Pilgrims came from across Europe to see St Cuthbert's body, which was kept in St Mary's and St Cuthbert's Church, before being moved to Durham.

It was also where the Gospels were translated and was believed to be a Roman cavalry base.

The town also has Viking roots, but until now its historical past has received scant attention.

It is hoped all that will change with a proposed heritage trail around town landmarks, from the viaduct to St Mary's and St Cuthbert's Church.

On Wednesday, Chester-le-Street Heritage Group will give a slide show on the walk, in the town's library at 7pm. The meeting is open to the public and there is a £1 admission.

Secretary of the group, Edna Stokoe, said: "We hope to have this up and running by summer.

"We are involving both the Hermitage School and Park View Community School, who are designing information boards for sites near the viaduct and near the parish centre."

The group will get leaflets printed that contain the route and town's history. The booklets will be available for tourists and residents at the Civic Centre and library.

The heritage group is also trying to raise money to place a copy of the Lindisfarne Gospels at St Mary's and St Cuthbert's Church, where they were first translated from Latin into English by Anglo-Saxon monks.

It has already raised £4,000, but still needs to raise another £3,000.