A CHURCH will be filled with flowers and music this weekend as part of the national heritage open days.

Fourteen large floral displays are being arranged in Northgate United Reformed Church, in Darlington, for visitors to view on the four open days.

The displays have been created by members of the congregation with advice from Allison Thomson, of Glasgow, who specialises in ecclesiastical floral arrangements.

Visitors will also be entertained by a variety of local musicians, organists and bands, including the church orchestra which will be playing items from its recently-recorded compact disc.

It is the first time that the church, which was opened in 1869, has thrown itself so wholeheartedly in the English Heritage Open Days.

The full weekend programme is:

Friday - 2pm to 3pm, Andrew Christer, the St John's Church organist; 3pm to 4pm: Robin Salisbury, the St Thomas Aquinas organist; 4pm to 5pm: taped music.

Saturday - 10am to 11am: Pianist Douglas Chambers, a member of the congregration; 11am to noon: Mr Christer; noon to 1pm: Haraoke Band, a four-piece playing largely non-church music; 1pm to 2pm: Zoe Mather, the Northgate organist; 2pm to 3pm: Northgate United Reformed Church Orchestra led by Liz Hayward.

Sunday - Visitors are welcome from 10am with Harvest Festival Communion starting at 10.45am.

Monday - 11am to noon: Mr Chambers; noon to 1pm: Mr Christer; 1pm to 2pm: taped music.