THE noise of battle and the genteel art of patchwork making may seem light years apart, but one North-East museum has brought them together for one weekend.

Beamish Museum is to stage a 1913 military camp with demonstrations of horseback "skill at arms" and soldiers brandishing sabres and pistols.

The 1st Dragoons, in full battle dress, will also set up camp, demonstrate early 1900s military life, and give visitors the opportunity to discover just what life was really like for soldiers of the day.

For those with more genteel tastes, this weekend will also see demonstrations of north country quilting in the town.

Brenda Johnstone and Lilian Hedley, members of the Quilters' Guild, will demonstrate quilting and patchwork on full- size frames, and will be on hand to answer questions.

Also on display will be a selection of hand-made quilts, not usually on show, from the Beamish collection.

Saturday will also see recitals by Fulwell and Roker Methodist Church Choir in the Colliery Village chapel at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Gawthorpe Brass '85 Band is to play in the town park bandstand, from 2pm to 5pm.

On Sunday, the museum will host the 20th anniversary of the Morgan Car Club meet.

For those who prefer something more sedate, the Sunday School anniversary takes place next Sunday. At 2.30pm, children from West Pelton Junior Church group, dressed in period costume, will recreate this important date in the Methodist chapel calendar. They will join in recitations, readings and hymns with West Pelton Methodist Choir.