A TREASURE hunt with a difference takes place on the riverbanks of Durham today.

Although there is no pot of gold to be found, the "treasure" that hunters will attempt to pinpoint are a collection of 25 contemporary bird boxes dotted around the wooded riverbanks of the city's cathedral and castle peninsula.

The boxes are considered temporary working pieces of public art, which have been used by nesting birdlife - including rare spotted flycatchers, robins, starlings and tawny owls - since they were mounted last year.

Each was designed in a project involving architects, arts and bird conservation groups, as well as youngsters from Wearhead Primary School.

The bird box treasure hunt, a two-and-a-half hour nature trail to locate all 25 of the variously-sized green and yellow plywood boxes, takes place as a North-East event on the programme of Architecture Week 2005.

Garry Smith, of the Durham Bird Box Project, said: "It will hopefully pass a message on to planners that no matter how small the scale of a building project, as long as quality design ethics and the built environment are taken into consideration, the inhabitants and environment will be best served."

The reward for anyone locating all 25 boxes on special maps provided to "treasure hunters" will, fittingly, be - a bird box.

Anyone interested in taking part should meet at Fowlers Yard, Durham, by 12.30pm, with the event expected to run until 3pm.

Tickets are £2 for families and £1 for individuals, with further details available from Durham City Arts, on (0191) 301 8245.