RESIDENTS are being asked to donate items as part of plans to open a new heritage centre in a former pit village.

Plans for a new centre dedicated to the history and heritage of Horden, in County Durham, are in the early stages and villagers are being asked whether they would be prepared to loan memorabilia and old photographs for display in the build up to opening.

Horden Regeneration Partnership hopes to open the centre in a former depot on Seaview Industrial Estate, close to Horden's Heritage Coast.

The centre would house items and mining memorabilia to illustrate what it was to live and work in Horden in years gone by.

Volunteers will gauge interest among local residents with a display of items and old photos in Horden Social Welfare Centre. Residents are asked to let volunteers know if they would be willing to loan items, which show what life was like in the years from 1900.

Partnership Project Manager, Michael Fishwick says: "If local people have items or mining memorabilia which they'd be happy for us to display, we'd love to hear from them.

"We're drawing up a list to be able to launch our heritage display later this year. If it's a success and people take an interest, we hope to secure funding for a permanent Heritage Centre in 2010.

"Horden has a great future but we want to make sure visitors and schoolchildren know and enjoy its past."

Anyone interested in donating an item should contact Michael Fishwick on 0191 527 0635 or Partnership member Billy Hill on 0191 586 9909.