A CALENDAR featuring striking scenes of Durham has been launched.

The award-winning Images of Durham calendar, featuring the work of city-based photographer Royston Thomas, has proved extremely popular with residents and tourists and has experienced record sales as well as worldwide distribution, over the 12 years since it was first published.

This year, Durham residents were asked to suggest the 13 chosen scenes, one for each of the 12 months of the year and the one for the cover.

The striking black and white images captured by Mr Thomas include an internal shot of the cathedral featuring the Chapel of the Nine Altars and the Rose Window.

Four of the images feature the cathedral, two external and two internal, while other locations include the Old Fulling Mill Museum and nearby weir, a River Wear rowing scene, plus the statues of mining union figures outside the NUM regional headquarters, at Redhills.

There is also a Miners' Gala scene and other landmarks featured are St Nicholas' Church spire, the Londonderry statue in the Market Place, and the Bailey junction with Bow and Dun Cow lanes.

John Jennings, the city council's director of environmental services, said: "In promoting Durham City worldwide we need to single out those aspects which define its unique and dramatic character.

"The Images of Durham calendar enables us to do this with style, illustrating in a sublime way the treasure trove of architectural gems that make the city such a distinctive place."

Images of Durham is available from the Tourist Information Centre at the Gala Theatre, or from some city council offices, for £6.99.