A WORLD Heritage Site city has a curious new attraction – live video footage of an underground wall.

Archaeologists have discovered remains of Durham Castle’s medieval North Gate, demolished in 1820, in the cellar of an empty shop in Saddler Street.

The cellar has now been resealed, with no public access underground.

However, live video of the wall is being shown on a screen in the shopfront on the street above.

The project, which has also seen the shop revamped, has cost Durham County Council more than £28,000. The Salvation Army, which owns the building, also paid for work to the premises.

A council spokeswoman said the £28,000 was a business improvement grant drawn from the Heart of the City fund and a payment resulting from an out-of-town development. She added that the audio visual display cost less than a fifth of the total.

Michael Hurlow, a principal project manager at the council, said: “A decaying and empty premises in an important city centre location has been renovated and new tenants Andersons are already advertising for staff.

“A really significant part of Durham’s World Heritage Site history, previously out of reach to the public, is now open to view alongside a host of interesting information via a touch screen facility.

“Through contributing a relatively small portion of the funds required for the far wider renovations on site, we have supported both job creation and cultural enhancements.”

Along with the live video, the touch-screen display also offers historical information and computer-generated “flyover”

films of the Peninsula.

It seemed to be attracting little interest yesterday, with tourists and locals alike walking straight past.

However, Rachel Owens, who stopped to look, said: “It’s really interesting. I’ve lived in Durham all my life and I didn’t know this existed.

“It’s nice to be able to go through at your own pace.

The visuals are good too.”

Paul Davidson, from Crook , said: “It’s definitely worth a look.”

Clothing and footwear firm Andersons of Durham is set to open a new store called The Keep in the premises shortly.