A MINI-Durham Miners' Gala will feature in the Houghton Feast carnival parade for the first time tomorrow.

Six pit banners and a band will march at the back of the carnival cavalcade that makes its way through Houghton-le-Spring as the annual celebrations move into top gear.

The idea came from the Lambton and Houghton Banner, which raised £20,000 for the restoration of the two collieries' banners.

George Rowe, of the group, said he was delighted the carnival organisers and the police had agreed to it.

Six banners, including Houghton, Lambton, Lumley Sixth Pit, Thornley and Murton, will be carried behind Broughton's North-East Area NUM Band, which - in Big Meeting style - will stop outside the parish church in Broadway and play the miners' hymn, Gresford, and other favourites to the assembled dignitaries.

"It is the first time we have done this and we have had a lot of volunteers who have agreed to carry the banners,'' said Mr Rowe, a former miner.

"I am very proud. I have tried long and hard to get this and the festival committee and the police have been very helpful in agreeing to allow us to take part.

"It was agreed that it would be best if we came at the rear, so we can perform to the dignitaries in front of the church.''

The parade, organised by Houghton Round Table, starts at 2.30pm at Houghton Sports Centre with decorated floats, vintage vehicles and steam engines. It will go through The Broadway and into Dairy Lane and Wheeler Street.

Tonight, the feast will be officially launched with a lantern parade to The Broadway, starting at 7.10pm at Houghton Kepier School. It will be followed by a pyrotechnics display and, at 7.45pm, by the switch-on of the illuminations.