TO celebrate the launch of Bishop Auckland’s gallery championing mining heritage, communities across South Durham are being offered an introductory ticket discount.

The Mining Art Gallery, in Old Bank Chambers, in Bishop Auckland Market Place, opened its doors to the public for the first time on Saturday.

And now residents from Bishop Auckland, Crook, Spennymoor, Shildon and Weardale can visit for half price throughout October and November.

The first gallery of its size in the country, it featured original artefacts and powerful artworks from some of the region’s mining artists such as Tom McGuinness and Norman Cornish, the gallery explores the underground world of the coalmines and the unique community life of the colliery towns and villages that surrounded them.

Now the usual full ticket price of £4 will be reduced to £2 for residents in postcode areas DL4, DL13, DL14, DL15 and DL16.

The half-price offer will run until Thursday, November 30, and proof of address must be shown,

For more information visit:aucklandproject.org/news