AN MP has praised the work of an open-air night show for the role it plays in her constituents' health and well-being.

Bishop Auckland MP, Helen Goodman, praised the work of Eleven Arches which has hosted Kynren - An Epic Tale of England, in Bishop Auckland, over the summer months for two years running.

Speaking in all-party group on arts, health and well-being debate on Wednesday, Ms Goodman said the popular event sees 1,500 volunteers help make it a success.

She pointed out that many volunteers she had spoken to had said it had left them on a high and that they felt they had gained a lot from taking part in the show.

However, she agreed with the group’s report there is an inequality in access to the arts with London receiving 14 times as much funding per person than other regions such as the North-East.

Although she said this had improved over the years she still thought it had not improved enough.

She said: “One of the difficulties is that people who suffer from other social inequities are precisely the ones who are least likely to be able to access the arts."

"At one point, the funding was run so that there was 14 times as much per person in London as there was in the regions. I know it has improved, and I hope the Minister can tell us how it has improved, but it is still not enough. That is an important point.

“I also highlight the work of the fantastic Auckland Castle project in my constituency. At the moment, they are running a summer night show, with a phenomenal 1,500 people participating, all of them volunteers.

“It would have been good to have measured the wellbeing of the people before the project began and again at the end. If there are any academics listening to the debate, I urge them to come to Bishop Auckland and measure where people are at the beginning and at the end of the summer season.

“The people who are involved tell me that they feel on a real high, they get a lot out of it and there is a lot of community building, and I am sure that the improvements in wellbeing are measurable.”