A PIECE of a former pit village's history has been given a new home.

Thornley's NUM Greenwood banner has been repaired and put on display at Youll House, headquarters of Age Concern Thornley.

The banner was made in 1947 to celebrate the Greenwood Homes for retired miners in the village.

It was only carried at the Durham Miners' Gala for a short time, as the paint began to crack, and was presented to Lord and Lady Greenwood, after whom the homes were named, and kept at their London home until the 1980s.

It returned to Thornley and was kept at Thornley Welfare Hall.

Now it is hanging at Youll House, where the village's pensioners meet for lunch clubs, bowls and dances.

Peter Carlin, chief officer of Age Concern Durham County, said: "It is an ideal place to be displayed as Age Concern Thornley is a very busy organisation providing activities five days a week for local older people.