DARLINGTON art gallery's original oak beamed ceiling has been rediscovered during work on a new ICT centre in the Crown Street building.

The borough council is so delighted with the find that it has scrapped plans to install a new suspended ceiling in the computer unit.

Chief librarian Peter White told the D&S Times: "We did know the beams were there, but they had been covered up for many years.

"The original library opened in 1885 and that section became an art gallery in the early Sixties, when a suspended ceiling was put in, costing £517 12s.

"We were taking that ceiling down when we uncovered the most marvellous oak beams, turned on a lathe."

The original plan was to put in a new suspended ceiling and upgrade the lighting.

"When we saw how splendid the ceiling was, we changed our minds. It would be such a terrible shame to hide it.

"So we are going to redecorate the entire room and put in new lighting in sympathy with the beams, which will be restored to their former splendour.

"We are quite keen on the idea of combining new technology with the traditional building."