A PAIR of millennium stones to greet visitors to a village will be unveiled on November 12.

The York stone blocks, 5ft high and weighing six tonnes, will be dedicated at Neasham, near Darlington.

Made by Shipley Quarry, Barnard Castle, they will be placed outside Neasham Abbey and at the bottom of Dibsdale Bank, opposite the Pump House. The stones will feature the words Neasham 2000.

The village's millennium committee has raised more than £4,000 to celebrate the year 2000, and more celebrations are being planned into next year.

Committee treasurer Pamela Thomas said: "Over the last year, we have had a Neasham Millennium Committee for ladies, and we have raised about £4,500 with various functions, dances and jumble sales."

At one of those events, local farmer Nigel Swinbank won the honour to perform the dedication at the Dibsdale Bank site, at 2pm.