A REUNION for people of the "village that wouldn't die" proved such a worldwide hit that the best bits will be repeated later this month.

The Gathering at Witton Park in July brought together former residents of the pit village from all corners of the globe.

Many families had to leave the village several decades ago after a controversial directive, Category D, put a block on development in the villages and bulldozed dilapidated homes. Many people were rehoused in Bishop Auckland.

But on July 22, former villagers proved the community spirit was as strong as ever, and flocked from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, America, The Netherlands and Belgium.

Organiser Dale Daniel has decided to let everyone view the highlights with The Gathering Revisited event next Thursday.

A big screen will be set up at St Chad's RC Primary School and a videotape of the reunion will be screened, along with past footage and a showing of the television film, the Village that Refused to Die.

Tickets are £4, and proceeds will go to St Chad's Millennium Building Fund, to build an extension to the school. On December 1, people can relive the history of the village with a talk in the village hall