CARPET manufacturer Hugh Mackay has designed the carpet for the Gala, the £14m theatre at the centre of the Millennium City development.

The company, based at the Meadowfield Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Durham, has added the project to a list of other high-profile locations for its designs.

These include Buckingham Palace, The Sultan's Palace in Oman and the Library of congress in Washington DC.

Millennium City is a £30m Durham City Council project funded by the Millennium Commission, European Regional Development Fund, Durham City Council and English Partnerships with the help of Durham County Council.

Twenty years ago Hugh Mackay Carpets moved from a site at Walkergate, next to the Millennium City development, to Dragonville Industrial Estate. With help from Durham City Council, it moved to its new site two years ago, securing 300 jobs, after a management buy-in deal.

Maurice Crathorne, leader of Durham City Council, said: "Gala is a distinctive venue, and the superb design of the carpet reflects the care we take to ensure the highest standards throughout.

"Mackay's is one of the city's oldest companies and I am delighted that the newest city project, Millennium City, will boast a Mackay's carpet, designed and crafted by local people."

David Pickard, managing director of Hugh Mackay, said: "Without the tremendous commitment of Durham City Council our route from Walkergate to Meadowfield would have been much harder.

"It is great to be able to be part of Millennium City, and carry on the connection between Mackay's and our first site, where we began with 11 looms and just 20 workers."