IT has outlived the closure of two major theatres and even survived a cultural shift from Gilbert and Sullivan to S Club 7.

But as Chester-le-Street Operatic Society prepares to enter its 100th year there is one thing that the County Durham group still needs - fresh blood.

Next year's centenary celebrations will combine an appeal for old programmes, memorabilia and photo-graphs, with a renewed call for new members to join a group that first trod the boards in 1903.

Nearly a century on and, while the society's former venues - the Hippodrome and the Empire Theatre - have long since passed into the history books, the group is still going.

One couple, who between them have more than a century's worth of memories about Chester-le-Street's premier amateur dramatics group, are Bill and Edna Bowman.

Now both in their mid-80s, the pair, originally from Birtley but now living in Chester-le-Street, got involved in the late 1940s and still attend on most Monday nights.

Mrs Bowman said: "I've played the piano there for the best part of 50 years and it's always been an important part of our lives.

"The only problem now of course, is that most of the 'younger' members have got bus passes."

The group performed to packed audiences in the town's old Hippodrome and the Empire Theatre before both were demolished, and have been doing the same at Park View Community Theatre for the past 30 years.

If anyone has any memories, photographs or programmes from any time in the past 100 years, they are asked to contact Margaret Reed on 0191- 388 8382.

* A Century of Song, comes to Park View on Wednesday, March 20, running to Saturday, March 23. Tickets, priced £4 for adults and £2 for children, are available by calling 0191-584 3061.