THE life of the region's greatest saint and the story of one of Durham City's best known churches were told with flowers at the weekend.

A flower festival, titled St Cuthbert - Our Heritage, was held at the St Cuthbert's RC church to mark its 175th anniversary.

Flower arrangers from all over the city created images of St Cuthbert including his ordination as a monk in Scotland, depictions of Lindisfarne where he lived most of his life and of monks arriving in Durham after his death.

Other floral displays showed the modern life of the church and its connections with the university and its twin parish in India.

The displays, seen by about 600 people, followed a Friday night concert by young people from the parish. The church was designed by Ignatius Bonomi who created many of the city's prominent buildings including nearby Durham Prison.

Church spokesman Andrew Doyle said: "It has been a big success. It was the brainchild of Pat Stewart and Mary Ledger who contacted flower arrangers from across the city and artistic director was Kathleen Edmenson did great work. It's been a lovely weekend for the parish.