DURHAM Miners’ Gala is set to host a music festival alongside its annual event this summer.

The Marras festival will include camping and music on Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8 with performances from indie rock band The Lightning Seeds, local bands and a tent featuring Newcastle underground club World Headquarters (WHQ).

The festival is being held at Houghall College, with numbers limited to around 5,000 people for this year’s event.

The 133rd Miners' Gala is due to take place on Saturday, July 8.

Ross Forbes, director of the friends of the Miners’ Gala, said: “Last year we had a request to see if we could do camping but it was a bit late to plan anything. Then we got thinking and if people are going to camp, why not put on a festival?

“It’s growing the gala. Of course the core is the brass bands and the trade unions but there are a lot of people who just want to experience the event.”

He added: “The amazing thing about the gala is last pit in County Durham shut in 1993 yet people still keep going to the gala. It’s big in people’s hearts and souls and it’s part of their heritage and culture. It keeps going because of the people.

“It adds to the future events if we have a festival and it gives people something else to come and see. It broadens the experience which is what it’s all about.”

This year’s festival will feature local bands on the Friday night while Saturday night will be headlined by The Lightning Seeds. WHQ will also have a tent featuring DJs.

Bruce Emmett, from Mighty Events which is organising the festival for the DMA, said: “To have them coming out of the club is a massive big deal. It’s unheard of. We’ll have some really big DJs.

“A music festival with camping hasn’t been done at the gala before. Hopefully it will attract a younger crowd.”