A VISIT to the House of Lords and lunch with a local peer is being offered in a charity auction.

Noreen and Ken Harris, who run the Rose Tree at Shincliffe, near Durham City, will tonight lay on a free supper for family, friends and regulars to mark their first year running the business.

They are also holding an auction in aid of Cancer Research, in memory of Mrs Harris' mother, Audrey Parkin, of Gateshead, who recently died of the disease.

Lord McKenzie of Framwellgate Moor, the former president of the Superintendents' Association, who is a regular at the pub, has offered a visit to the upper house and a meal to the highest bidder.

That, and other items donated by local businesses, including jewellery and meals at hotels, will be auctioned during the evening.

Mrs Harris said: "I'm thrilled to bits. I think people will be interested in the trip around the House of Lords. I'm expecting more than 100 people on the night. We have some really good regulars."

The auction will take place at 9.30pm, but bids for the House of Lords visit can be telephoned up to 11pm, on 0191-386 8512.