A HERITAGE project to maintain the mining history of part of the Durham coalfield has been awarded a major grant.

The New Herrington Miners' Banner Partnership has been awarded £3,400 from Sunderland City Council towards its All Our Yesterdays scheme.

Over recent years, the project has helped build a memorial garden at Herrington Country Park and a commemorative plaque at St Aidan's Church, for miners who lost their lives at work.

It also represents the local community at the annual Durham Miners' Gala, Penshaw Carnival, remembrance services at Shiney Row and St Aidan's, Houghton Feast and the Thomas Hebburn Memorial Service.

The latest project is to promote the cultural heritage of the mining industry in the area, by restoring and displaying historical photographs, newspaper articles and posters.

The memorabilia will be mounted on mobile display boards which will travel around local venues such as schools, libraries, churches and residential homes.

Committee member Bryan Middlemiss said: "We wish to teach the new members of the community and young people about the history of the community.

"The All Our Yesterdays project will enable us to present all our memorabilia in an educational and meaningful way. We are very grateful to have received this funding as, without it, the project could not have gone ahead."

Councillor Anne Hall, chairman of the Coalfield Area Committee, said: "The coalfields area is rich in heritage and we are very pleased to be able to support this venture which, in turn, aims to benefit the local economy by attracting visitors to the area."

The money has come from the council's Strategic Initiatives Budget, which provides grants to get new projects underway.