WE fully respect the right of the Church Commissioners to sell the paintings by Spanish artist Francisco de Zurburan which have adorned the walls of Auckland Castle for over two centuries.

With the Church of England struggling to make ends meet, having £10m worth of portraits hanging in a dining room which few people see, is a luxury it can not afford.

If and when such a rare and treasured collection goes on the market, there will be a huge level of interest generated across the world.

But we urge the Church not simply to dispose of the paintings at the earliest opportunity to the highest bidder.

We urge the Church to give the North-East the time and opportunity to find the money to buy the collection.

And we urge the public and private sectors in the North-East to find a way of financing such a worthwhile venture.

Bowes Museum, only a few miles from Auckland Castle, would appear to be the ideal venue to put the works of art on permanent public display.

While the Church Commissioners may enjoy the legal right of ownership, the paintings have been in the care of the Bishop of Durham and the Durham Diocese for many generations. They are part of the cultural heritage of our region, and no effort should be spared in ensuring they remain in our region.

Big city galleries in this country and overseas already have collections capable of attracting visitors in large numbers. The North-East is not so fortunate.

The Zurburan paintings will be a main attraction for any museum or gallery in our region.

They will bring in visitors and tourists who may otherwise not come to the region. The economic benefits of the paintings being on show at somewhere like Bowes Museum will be tangible.

What better legacy could the Church of England give to Durham than to allow the county to retain custodianship of a collection which has been here for 250 years?