A COLLECTION of portraits spanning half a century went on display this weekend.

The exhibition, which opened at Darlington Arts Centre's Myles Meehan Gallery on Saturday, features works by local and national artists.

The portraits belong to Darlington Borough Council, and are taken from the authority's 600-strong collection of art that has built up over the last 50 years.

The exhibition features 30 portraits by both famous and unknown artists, and the organisers are hoping that visitors may be able to shed some light on the anonymous painters, as well as some of the people featured in the works.

A famous portrait of the Queen Mother by local artist Lyndsey Bird, a former head of art at the town's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, is also featured.

Chris McIntyre, of Darlington Civic Theatre and Arts Centre, said: "The arts centre is displaying an unusual collection of portraits, which is made even more unusual by the fact that some are by unknown artists and others are of unknown people.

"The gallery is appealing to anyone who visits the exhibition and can offer further information to write in or fill in a special form on display at the gallery."

The exhibition is open from 9am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, until September 1. Admission is free.