A COLLECTION of never seen before mug shots of historical North-East criminals are to be unveiled for the first time today.

Hartlepool Art Gallery will be showcasing the mug shots which were only recently discovered in the Museum of Hartlepool's photographic archives in 2015.

The free exhibition – which runs until March – features the previously-unseen mug shots of North-East Edwardian convicts who were found guilty of a range of crimes such as arson, fraud and even stealing potatoes.

They were originally captured by Hartlepool Borough Police, a small force which served Hartlepool Headland between 1851 and 1947.

Entitled "Exposed" the exhibition has been put together by Newcastle-based artist Jade Sweeting, who teaches at Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD), who used different processes to recycle the existing photos and add her own commentary. I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity to bring these lost identities back to life and to share them with the community.”

She developed and restored the 100 year old negatives in the black and white darkroom at CCAD using a technique called “contact print”.

Anna Dodgson, Cultural Officer at Hartlepool Borough Council said: “The images have been buried away deep in the Museum of Hartlepool’s vaults for decades so we are delighted that Jade has brought them to life and unveiled them in this evocative and haunting display.”

Hartlepool Art Gallery, in Church Square, Hartlepool, is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm. For details, call 01429-869706 or visit hartlepoolartgallery.co.uk