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

A festival of flowers, titled St Cuthbert - Our Heritage, was held at St Cuthbert's RC Church to celebrate its 175th anniversary.

Flower arrangers from all parts of the city took part in creating images of St Cuthbert in flowers, including his ordination as a monk in Scotland, depictions of Lindisfarne where he lived most of his life, a Celtic cross celebrating the Celtic chuch and of monks arriving in Durham after his death.

Other displays were on the themes of the modern life of the church and its connections with the university and twin parish in northern India.

The displays, seen by about 600 people, followed a concert by young people of the parish on Friday night.

The church was built shortly before Catholic emancipation, when Catholics were given equal worshipping rights, and was designed by Ignatius Bonomi, who created many of the city's most prominent buildings, including the nearby Durham Prison.

The architect also designed the stone bridge depicted on the recently replaced £5 note celebrating the first passenger train in Darlington.

"It has been a big success," said vice-chairman of the church's Parish Pastoral Council, Andrew Doyle. "It was the brainchild of Pat Stewart and Mary Ledger, who contacted flower arrangers from across the city, and artistic director Kathleen Edmenson did great work."