A VARIETY of vegetables and flowers grown in allotments were on show at a museum to provide visitors with an insight into an old pit village tradition.

The Shield Row Allotments Association staged its exhibition at the Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham.

Association member Harold Cummings said: "We have been displaying annually since the museum asked us about ten years ago to put on a show.

"It is to give visitors an idea of the kind of produce people used to grow in pit villages."

The association has about 90 members, of which 16 had their produce on display, including leeks, cauliflowers, cabbages, onions.

Flowers included dahlias and chrysanthemums.

The produce was later auctioned, with proceeds going to the exhibitors.