A TOWN hall will open its first art exhibition today.

Work by artists from across Sedgefield borough will be displayed in a purpose-built exhibition area at Ferryhill Town Hall.

Ferryhill Town Council and the Ferryhill 2000 Committee hope to turn the exhibition into an annual event.

It will run throughout the week and link up with the town's annual summer gala, on Saturday and Sunday.

The council agreed to give up the Council Chamber for the exhibition after discovering that local artists face lengthy waiting lists of up to three years to put their work on show at some venues.