A NORTH-EAST university is launching a season of special talks celebrating the Lindisfarne Gospels.

This July sees a new exhibition of some of the most important early manuscripts in the world open on Palace Green in Durham - including the Lindisfarne Gospels. To celebrate this rare opportunity to see these stunning works award-winning children's author David Almond will present a special free one-off lecture 'The Word'.

David Almond is twice winner of the Whitbread Children's Book Award. His first novel Skellig won this prestigious award and the Carnegie Medal, and was made into a film in 2009.

On May 2 David Almond will present 'The Word' at Commercial Union House, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle. The 6pm talk is presented in association with the University of Sunderland's Centre for Lifelong Learning Explore scheme.

David Almond said: "The Lindisfarne Gospels are as much a part of the culture of the North East as coalmining and shipbuilding.

"As a writer from the North I use 'Northern Language' as did the transcribers of the Lindisfarne Gospels, who translated the original texts into a Northern dialect.

"There's a magic in words. One of things I like about the Gospels is that they're illustrated, and I've been working with illustrators on my work too lately, so I feel a real connection there. The Lindisfarne Gospels are a beautiful blend of image and text, and that has influenced me and the types of books I want to produce."

As well as David Almond's talk the Sunderland centre - known as Explore - will be holding sessions on the Gospels and the community of St Cuthbert and the Greek Alphabet. Find out more explore.sunderland.ac.uk or ring 0191 5152800.