IN 1903, while Henry Ford was founding his motor company and the Wright brothers were conducting their first flight, a group of Chester-le-Street shopkeepers and tradesmen were busy setting up an amateur dramatics company.

Now the group is celebrating its 100th year.

Chester-le-Street Amateur Operatic Society has weathered countless cultural changes since its formation a century ago, but despite the pull of television and Hollywood blockbusters, the group is still going strong.

The society is now rehearsing for its centenary production, Oklahoma, which they last performed in 1955, and it has just put up an exhibition in Chester-le-Street library charting the group's history.

It was set up in 1903 by the town's grocer, Mr Ridley, a Miss Curry, the Thompson brothers, who were builders, a painter and decorator, and the Punshons family, who were cobblers.

Today, the group's oldest serving member is Millie Usher, who joined in the 1930s.

In her long and distinguished career she has filled many roles, namely assistant secretary, wardrobe mistress, vice-president and actress.

Joanne Ranson, from the operatic society, said: "Everybody seemed to have lofts full of memorabilia so we went round and collected as many things as we could for the exhibition.

"When the group started, it was made up of local business people who toured around putting on mini-shows, who then just decided to make something a bit more permanent in Chester-le-Street."

Oklahoma runs from Monday, November 3, to Saturday, November 8, at Park View Community Theatre, in Chester-le-Street. For tickets, which cost £6 for adults and £3 for children, call 0191-388 6001.