THE region's folk music development body Folkworks is holding its annual Durham Gathering in the city.

It will feature concerts and workshops in various instruments led by top folk performers, including Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell.

It starts today, at 7.30pm, with a concert in Elvet Methodist Church, Old Elvet, featuring Kathryn Tickell, Haugaard and Hoirup, a guitar and fiddle duo from Denmark, Irish fiddler Liz Doherty, melodeon player Saul Rose and others.

Tomorrow features a concert in the church by Sandra and Nancy Kerr and Friends, playing the music of Northumberland and the Borders, between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.

On Saturday, there will be free performances in the Market Place between 11am and 1pm.

The folk picnic will take place at 2pm in the grounds of the DLI Museum, Aykley Heads.

Two finale concerts will be held at Elvet Methodist Church on Saturday evening.

Tickets for the concerts are available from Durham Tourist Information Centre, Market Place. Further details are available from Folkworks on 0191-222 1717.