TWO brothers have been separately shortlisted for national awards.

Jim and Bob McManners will attend their awards ceremonies in London within a few days of each other.

Younger brother Bob, a GP in Bishop Auckland, has been entered for the Raymond Williams prize for community publishing, with Gillian Wales, centre manager at Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

They have written and published a book called Shafts of Light, which traces the history of mining art.

Both were collectors of work by miner-turned-artist Tom McGuinness, and wrote a book about him.

The prize ceremony, for non-fiction works published in the community, takes place on Wednesday, in the Arts Workers Guild, in London.

Dr McManners said: "We worked on the book for four-and-a-half years, so at the end of the day it is very nice to see it acknowledged."

Elder brother Jim is in the running for a national teaching award after winning the North-East section in the BT school and community involvement category.

He is headteacher of Cassop Primary School, near Durham City, the first in the country to be powered by a wind turbine. His award ceremony will be at the London Palladium on Sunday.

Although there is no direct link between the awards, the brothers feel their home background of Ferryhill provides a connection.

Mr McManners said: "We have chosen to stay in pit villages and the common ground really is that they are both awards connected to the community."

Shafts of Light is available from Bishop Auckland Town Hall on (01388) 602610, priced £12.95 plus postage.