DURHAM'S first Open Art Exhibition attracted hundreds of people to the DLI Museum and Art Gallery for the announcement of the three winners.

Three arts professionals were selected from 116 works exhibited out of an original entry of 500.

First prize of £500 went to Sunderland University Fine Art graduate Sonny Williams, for an untitled portrait painted on metal.

Second prize, of £250, was won by professional artist Robert Soden, for his Somerset Landscape and the third prize, of £100, was won by Wilf Lancaster for his image called Structure, which reflects the North-East's industrial heritage.

Mr Williams, of Hylton, Sunderland, has just agreed to co-exhibit his work in London and said: "Winning this prize is a great step forward for me because I'm keen to stage a solo exhibition in the near future."

The judges said of his work: "This painting was chosen for its boldness, originality and striking image. The power of this painting is so strong that if you took everything else off the walls, it would carry the room on its own."

Visitors to the exhibition, which runs until December 7, can vote for their favourite work, which will win a prize donated by Nissan.

At the prize-giving, Partrick Conway, the county council's director of cultural services, said such was the interest in the exhibition that the authority is keen to develop it into the Northern Arts region's blue riband event.

Council deputy leader Don Ross opened the event and confirmed that there were plans to launch a bi-annual platform to display the North's best art.

The competition, called Eye Opener, was supported by Durham County Council, the DLI Museum & Durham Art Gallery and Nissan.