A LASTING view of a small North-East community has gone on display.

More than 13 months after it was first suggested, Seasons of Ebchester, four colourful textile panels depicting the north-west Durham village's past, present and future, were officially unveiled at the weekend.

The panels portray a central axis of the River Derwent, on which Ebchester stands, but other local geographical and historical features are depicted, including the old Roman road, Dere Street.

Backed by a Millennium Awards for All grant of £1,668, and £400 from Derwentside District Council, the arts project has involved the skills of about 20 local volunteers, mainly talented embroiderers, and children at the village primary school.

Coordinating the project was textile artist Clare Satow, from Bill Quay in Gateshead, who was presented with a painting of Ebchester by grateful villagers on Saturday.

Durham County Council leader and local member Don Robson performed the unveiling at Ebchester Community Centre.

The four panels, each measuring 5ft by 2ft 6in, can be viewed at events in the centre, but are designed to be dismantled to go out on show elsewhere in the community.

While the finished work was the culmination of a community-wide effort, the Millennium arts project only got off the ground following a suggestion by villager Brian Howarth, a keen helper of Ebchester Community Association.

He also helped to complete the project by making the oak frames in which the panels are mounted on the walls of the community centre.

"It's been a marvellous effort by a lot of people in the community. What they have produced is absolutely amazing," said Brian, a 71-year-old retired engineering manager.

"I think it's something for which everyone in Ebchester can be proud."

Brian has now suggested adding a fifth panel to reflect the varying flora and fauna of Ebchester, season by season.