THE best pictures captured by the region's local newspaper photographers have gone on display in Durham.

The photographs, taken from 1999 entries for the North-East Press Awards, are on show at the University Library at Palace Green until December 15.

Topics covered by the snaps include News in Focus, Moments in Sport and Faces and Communities.

Among the shots is one taken by The Northern Echo's Stuart Bolton, which scooped the North East Picture of the Year: the Ian Weir Award.

The award was named after Ian, former Northern Echo deputy chief photographer, who died of a heart attack aged 38, while waiting for a life-saving bypass.

Stuart's winning photograph shows Darlington's Gary Bennett receiving a big hug from Marco Gabbiadini after scoring a goal in a derby match with Hartlepool.

Fans had been shouting racist abuse at Bennett, now The Quakers' manager, and the picture captures his response.

Work by The Northern Echo's Mike Urwin and Richard Doughty also features in the exhibition.

The library plans to add the pictures to its local history collection when the exhibition ends