THE best of this year's harvest of leeks, vegetables and flowers will be judged at an open air museum next weekend.

The event, billed as one of the most popular at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, will be held at the Colliery Village on September 9-10.

Shield Row Allotment Association will exhibit 13 stands of leeks and nine classes of vegetables and flowers.

Judging takes place on the Saturday morning, with the show open for viewing from 10am on both days.

The conclusion of the show at 3pm on Sunday will see a traditional auction of almost 40 lots of vegetables and flowers.

The Colliery Village Chapel, just across the lane from the leek show, will be the setting for the Harvest Festival.

Whitehall Road Methodist Choir, Gateshead, will give recitals in the chapel at 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Children from West Pelton Primary School, dressed in period costume, will add the finishing touches to the harvest display at 1.30pm.

Celebrations of the Harvest Home continue at 2.30pm on the Sunday when Hedworth Lane Methodist Choir, Boldon, gives a recital in the chapel