A copy of the legendary Lindisfarne Gospels will be housed in Sunderland, it has been announced.

The gospels will go on display to members of the pubic at the City Library and Arts Centre on Wednesday where they will be unveiled by mayor Councillor Juliana Heron.

Earlier this year, the British Library presented two £13,000 laser copies of the gospels to Durham Cathedral, from where they were originally snatched, and the heritage centre on Lindisfarne, near where they were first created in honour of St Cuthbert.

The manuscript has been kept in the capital since being seized by Henry VIII in 1537 and is now housed at the British Library. But historians say the Gospels belong in the North-East, where they were penned by monks.

Sunderland Council chief executive Colin Sinclair said: "To acquire this materpiece of fine art has been a great achievement for the city. The fact that this historic and beautiful copy will be on display within our city library seems quite fitting."

Chester-le-Street Heritage Group has said it also wants a copy, but must first raise £7,000 by December 10. The gospels were translated from Latin into English by Anglo-Saxon monks at St Mary and St Cuthbert's Church in Chester-le-Street, in the town.