THE treasured Lindisfarne Gospels, penned by monks 1,300 years ago, have been returned to the North-East.

And campaigners hope the loan of the lavishly illustrated manuscript to Newcastle's Laing Art Gallery, from the British Library, marks a step closer to a permanent return.

North-East dignitaries have lobbied for years for the scripts to be returned.

The Gospels were taken from the Island of Lindisfarne to be safe from Viking raiders and were carried around northern England as the monks looked for somewhere safe to settle.

They were taken to London by King Henry VIII in 1536.

The Government has been reluctant to allow the movement of the text, but a compromise was reached and an exhibition showing the gospels runs from tomorrow until January 7.

Association of North East Councils director Stephen Barber said: "They were written and prepared in this region and are of great significance to the region's identity. We would like to see them back in the region permanently."

Laing Art Gallery curator Andrew Greg said: "The Gospels are a supreme artistic achievement and intrinsic part of the North-East culture."

The exhibition includes a copy of Turning the Pages, a virtual edition of the work, in which visitors can touch a screen to turn pages of the "virtual gospels".

The Millennium Festival Heritage Lottery board awarded the Association of North East Councils £75,000 last year, for the temporary return of the Gospels.

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