AN award-winning County Durham museum has been asked to join a European partnership of mining attractions.

Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum in Weardale, is only the second attraction in England to be asked to join Minet.

The museum, managed by Durham County Council, will join partners from five other European countries in the organisation, which helps develop mining heritage sites in the European Union.

Director of arts, libraries and museums Patrick Conway said: "A very important factor is that the reconstructions on site are all accurate and authentic and represent buildings and processes which could once be seen in these locations at Killhope."

To celebrate the accolade, Local Government Minister and local MP Hilary Armstrong will visit Killhope on Friday