HIDDEN images of Durham Miners' Gala have been given their first public showing in the lead up to Saturday's event.

An exhibition of paintings and artefacts in Bishop Auckland Town Hall, County Durham, includes works by North-East artists not previously put on display.

Ex-miner Norman Cornish, of Spennymoor, got a year off from the pit to paint a mural for the opening of County Hall in 1963.

On Friday, he spent 90 minutes reviewing studies that he painted for the mural.

Bishop Auckland artist Tom McGuinness has several pictures on show, including a 1976 oil commissioned by Barclay's Bank, in Durham.

The Durham Miners Association has sent art works and banners from its Redhills headquarters.

And the Durham Mining Museum, at Easington, is displaying part of its collection of artefacts.

Other works are by Bowes Museum restorer Richard Hobson and former teacher Olly Burton.

The exhibition is sponsored by Cameo Fine Art, of Bishop Auckland, and is open until July 23. Telephone (01388) 602610 for further details