AN East Durham former pit village celebrating its centenary is the subject of a new book.

Memories of Horden has more than 45 photographs, many from local people's own albums.

They range from pitmen with ponies to sports teams, stage shows, pigeons, leeks and members of the Home Guard in the Second World War.

Horden grew up around the sinking of a mineshaft on August 23, 1900. House building started in 1901 and by 1919 there were more than 1,500 homes in the village.

Pubs, churches, and schools were built to meet the needs of the growing community. By 1930, Horden Colliery employed 4,428 people.

Peterlee new town was created as Horden's population reached 15,000, but in 1986 coal production stop and the mine closed.

A Durham County Council spokeswoman said: "Many of the photographs are of miners, the pit and the colliery welfare cricket and football teams.

"Others show classes of schoolchildren, local shops, including the butcher, street parties and the WI meeting in the church hall.

"Aerial views show the colliery site in the 1950s and the coastline today after restoration work by the Turning The Tide project.''

Memories of Horden is published by Durham County Books, the publishing arm of Durham Council's arts, libraries and museums department.

The book was launched yesterday at a Christmas coffee morning held in the village's library.

It is available at local libraries and book shops and costs £2.95