A FREE art exhibition to mark World Aids Day was staged at Durham County Hall yesterday.

The display was organised by Derwentside, Durham and Chester-le-Street primary care trusts' (PCTs) specialist health promotion services in a bid to raise awareness of the killer disease.

The trusts invited organisations that work with young people in the area to supply pieces of artwork including sculptures, pictures and posters.

A prize of a digital camera will be awarded to the submission judged to have been the best entry in the exhibition.

Kim McGarry, the PCTs' health promotion specialist for young people, said: "We chose World Aids Day to help promote awareness of HIV and Aids, and to inform people about how HIV is acquired and how people can protect themselves against it."

She added: "The earlier people are diagnosed with HIV the greater chance they have of living a longer and healthier life.

"An awareness and knowledge about HIV also enables people to make informed choices about their sexual behaviour and practising safer sex and safer drug use."