FAMILIES can follow in the footsteps of miners with a summer of creative drop-in activities in Bishop Auckland.

The Mining Art Gallery is this month offering hands-on fun for all ages, themed around what miners did in their spare time.

The first set of activities, which run until Friday, August 17, are centred around play and include traditional table top games, such as dominoes and shove ha’penny.

Visitors are invited to draw each other participating in these activities and contribute to a large collage within the Mining Art Gallery’s education space.

From August 20 to 31 the theme will switch to hobbies.

Young visitors will learn about vegetables and find out about allotments.

There will also be the opportunity to learn about pigeon lofts.

Carys Harper, learning officer for The Auckland Project, said: “Our drop in activities at Mining Art Gallery are a fantastic way to have fun with the family during the summer holidays and for everyone to learn more about the region’s mining heritage.”

Visitors can also take in the entire Mining Art Gallery with a special family trail exploring the lives of miners and the art they produced.

The trail is available every day while the Education Space will be open daily during August, on a drop-in basis, from 11am to 3pm.

Both are included in the gallery admission price of £5 for adults, £4 for concessions and £1 for under 16s.

The Education Space is occasionally closed for meetings, and families should call ahead to check availability.

For more information visit aucklandproject.org