A COMMUNITY group is looking to recruit a team of local volunteers to pull together a photographic portrait of an east Durham town.

East Durham Trust are seeking people who will produce a series of photographs that reflect the character of Peterlee.

Trust chief executive Malcolm Fallow said: “There are lots of archive pictures on record of local communities in the past, but we really need to pull together something from the present, and we really want to get local people involved.”

Thanks to East Durham Creates, a Creative People and Places project funded by Arts Council England, the trust is holding a special exhibition with archive pictures of Peterlee - and is hoping that people will come along and sign up to support the project.

Nikki Locke, head of East Durham Creates, said: “Photography is such a huge part of everyday life now - this is a great way for people to develop their skills, get creative and be involved in something that will be around for future generations to see. We’re very excited to be involved.”

No photographic experience is necessary, as a professional will be on hand to support the project which will run for ten weeks and end with an exhibition of the work.

Mr Fallow said: “We see this as a great opportunity for people to get involved in something worthwhile and as well as increasing participation in something artistic we feel it can make a particular contribution to wellbeing.”

The launch event and archive exhibition will be held at East Durham Trust, Community House, Yoden Road, Peterlee, from 11am to 2pm on Monday, October 26.

For more details contact contact Jess Watson on 0191-5693511 or jess.watson@eastdurhamtrust.org.uk.