A COMMUNITY'S coal mining traditions are being outlined to a generation of children born after the industry's demise.

More than 200 youngsters from Blackhall and nearby Hesleden, in east Durham, have visited a family history festival launched this week.

Local history groups have compiled an archive of old photographs, maps and documents, which has gone on show at Blackhall Community Centre.

Complementing the exhibition is a replica of a kitchen in a colliery house, along with an array of former mining memorabilia, including old pit banners, all brought to life by The History Man, alias actor Ian McNichol.

Children from local primary schools who visited the exhibition met Ian, who dressed as a 19th Century miner.

Archaeologist Deborah Anderson, from Durham County Council's cultural service, is also helping to cultivate the children's interest in the past.

Visitors to the exhibition are able to join in craft sessions, search for old photographs through a computer archive, buy local history books and enter a free prize draw to win a miner's helmet decorated with the Blackhall colliery banner.

County Cultural Services Divisional manager Sheila Owens said: "We hope the children have so much fun that they will come back with their parents after school."

The festival is open at 10am tomorrow, at the community centre, in Hesleden Road.

* Blackhall Local History Group welcomes people to its meetings on the first and third Mondays of the month at the neighbouring St Andrew's Church Hall, starting at 7.30pm.