A COMMUNITY’S colourful past was placed under the spotlight during a successful history day.

The event at St Cuthbert’s Church, in Shadforth, featured a variety of stalls, including an exhibition of Roman and old English coins, a display of photos of bygone Durham, a colliery banner and a penny whistle maker.

A group from Binchester Roman Fort excavations brought numerous artefacts used by the Roman Army. These included weapons, armour, a display of replica helmets and swords together with a large array of surgical instruments in use at the time and updated versions are still used today.

The Sherburn Hill Colliery banner caught the interest of two American visitors who found the event quite by chance. They were delighted at visiting the church where their ancestors, from coal mining families, had been married in 1876.