VILLAGERS can turn the clock back with a visit to their local library this week.

Photographs and memorabilia recalling the history of Brandon have gone on display in the village's Lowland Road library.

Down Memory Lane features photographs lent from the Brandon and Byshottles parish archives, as well as several old documents.

Among them are census returns from 1881, 1891 and 1901, reflecting the rapid growth of the village with the advent of the colliery in the late Victorian era.

They are available on microfiche, with an opportunity also available to access the computerised Durham Record, an archive of maps, photographs and old books.

Members of the Durham Miner project, recalling the history of the coalfield, will be visiting during the course of the week, while local historian David Butler, from the county records office, will give a talk tomorrow on tracing family trees.

Mary Lax, senior assistant at the library, said the local history week was being staged as a follow-on from a similar event which was popular last year.

"We had an excellent response last year and so we decided it was worth repeating.

"Around 800 people came last year and we expect it will be just as popular again.

"During the course of the week, one computer will permanently run the website of the Brandon Parish Archive so that people can access additional old photographs of the area."

The library is open from 9am to 12.30pm, and 1.30pm to 7pm on Thursday; to 5pm today and on Friday; while tomorrow and on Saturday, the hours are 9am to 12.30pm.

Local history week runs until Saturday, for further information, call 0191-378 0527.