A CARAVAN of art is one of the attractions that should help entice people back to an area badly hit by the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Its appearance is ordinary, but inside are pictures, music and text portraying life in the North Pennines, from drunken brawls to hill farmers' troubles.

Created by artists Karen Hood, Sophie Hunter, David Napthine and Greg Pullen, the work is inspired by the time they have spent in the past year meeting people during art residencies in the North Pennines.

On Saturday, it will be at the Durham Dales Centre, in Stanhope, for the first farmers' market in Stanhope since foot-and-mouth hit the dales.

There will be stalls selling farm produce such as eggs, cheese, even home-made soap, and also a mummers' play and history tour around Stanhope staged by Jack Drum Arts.

Durham Wildlife Trust will host another walk around the Durham Dales Centre, which finishes with a quiz for children.

Teesdale and Wear Valley farmers' market coordinator Cathy Tinn said the event should draw people back to the town, where trade has suffered.

She said: "This is important because not only have the producers who take part in the market been hit, but Stanhope as well. So hopefully this will bring some people back."

The market starts 10.30am.

The caravan, described by arts development officer at Wear Valley District Council David Plews as "beautiful, moving and downright hilarious," is in Stanhope on Saturday and Sunday, and appears at the Killhope Wheel Lead Mining Museum near Wearhead tomorrow and Friday.

On Monday and Tuesday it will be at Hunstanworth Village Hall.