TRADITIONAL clippy mats handmade by crafters in the region have gone on sale at a flagship modern art gallery.

Members of the Hole in the Wall craft group of Horden, near Peterlee, are displaying their their handiwork in the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima).

The display is the result of a partnership organised by East Durham Creates, which aims to increase opportunities for people in east Durham to get involved with the arts and culture.

Nikki Locke, head of East Durham Creates, said: “We want to celebrate the creativity and talent which we have right here in east Durham.

"These incredible hand-crafted mats showcase a traditional skill which has been used here in the North-East for many years and which has been passed down through the generations, and we hope that visitors to mima will want to take a piece of this craft home with them.”

Members of the Hole in the Wall group meet every week at Horden Youth and Community Centre to make their clippy mats, which are also sometimes known as ‘hooky’, ‘proggy’ or ‘raggy’ mats.

The mats would traditionally be made using old clothing and hessian from coal sacks. The fabric would be cut into strips and woven through, or pushed into the hessian, resulting in a textured mat which could be used on the bed or on the floor.

Six members of the group will have mats on sale in the mima shop, including Marguerite Hales, who said: “We feel proud and satisfied to see our mats for sale at mima.

"It feels wonderful to have our craft and creativity appreciated by other people.”

Mima retail manager Lindsey Richardson added: “Our shop supports traditional crafts and contemporary design.

"The mats that the Hole in the Wall group have made are creative and very appealing.

"They work perfectly with other hand-made, unique items that we stock, and connect well with our local heritage.”