VALUABLE archaeological finds and other items of Chinese art have been permanently retained in a prestige collection in the North-East.

Durham University's Oriental Museum faced losing many objects which had been on loan for more than 30 years when they went under the hammer at Sotheby's auction house, in London.

But grant aid from the Heritage Lottery Fund, plus further support, including backing from the Friends of the Oriental Museum, ensured 18 of the 22 lots, amounting to more than 50 individual objects, are now in its ownership.

They were only outbid for four lots, amid stiff competition from dealers in Hong Kong, mainland China and elsewhere in Britain.

The 18 lots were bought at below expected purchase price, for a total bill of £42,715.

It means most of the collection loaned by Hungarian Dr Henry de Laszlo, in 1970, will remain on view at the Elvet Hill museum.

Following his death, half his collection was given to the museum in 1992 and the remainder was put on sale recently by his widow.

Star pieces which will again be on show at the museum include Neolithic jade sceptres, dating more than 4,000 years, a bronze sword and chariot fittings from the Shang Dynasty, in 1600 BC, and 8th Century pottery tomb figures.

These feature smaller versions of the famous Chinese Terracotta Warrior Army, plus ladies of the court and attendants of the Tang Dynasty.

Museum curator Lindy Brewster said: "We're delighted we've managed to prevent much of the de Laszlo collection from being sold into private hands. The collection is comprehensive enough to illustrate China's artistic tradition in bronzes and ceramics from the Bronze Age to the 19th Century.

"I'm very pleased the Heritage Lottery Fund appreciated the quality of the collection and enabled the museum to keep the core of it together as a valuable resource for the region."