A NORTH-EAST museum is holding a flower festival to mark an important date in its history.

Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, is celebrating the 150th wedding anniversary of museum founders John and Josephine Bowes.

The event, which ends today, features displays and exhibits created by Rita Braithwaite and Carol Dixon, of the Teesdale Flower Club.

The Countess of Strathmore opened the festival at a preview event on Thursday and it opened to the public on Friday.

Lesley Taylor, chairman of the Friends of the Bowes Museum, who helped to organise the event, said: "I've wanted to do something like this for a long time because I think the museum and the collections really lend themselves to floral designs. I also hoped that it would bring more visitors to the museum.

"When we opened on Friday there were people waiting to get in and it was very busy all day."

For festival details, call the museum on (01833) 690606.