A CHURCH has provided the showcase for works of art created by a dales community.

St Philips and St James' Church, Tow Law, was filled with a variety of art work created by the Weardale villagers at the weekend.

The standard of work amazed everyone involved in the arts and crafts exhibition. Scale models of brass canons, oil paintings, hand-made dolls houses with minute fittings and Faberge-style decorated eggs were among the exhibits.

One of the highlights was clay tiles produced by children from Blessed John Duckett School and Tow Law Millennium Primary School.

With the help of artist Phil Townsend, from Middleton-in-Teesdale, they created tiles and covered them with designs featuring Tow Law landmarks or self-portraits. The project, which was funded by the town council and the Single Regeneration Budget, will be exhibited at the schools.

Tow Law's arts and crafts exhibition began ten years ago, but the weekend event was the first for four years. The village's mothers and toddlers group contributed work for the first time. Its members are hoping to study for a City and Guilds in arts and crafts.

Church warden Norman Deacon said: "All the work is done within the village. They have all manner of skills."