Ancient manuscript returns to the region

It has taken a number of years to achieve, but an exhibition showcasing the Lindisfarne Gospels back in the region where they spent hundreds of years has finally opened to the public with hundreds visiting on the first day.

The book is one of the country's finest treasures and is usually kept at the British Library in London, but it will be here for three months as part of the Durham exhibition in its spiritual home.

The book is 1300 years old and on display here, for the first time with other seventh century artefacts from Cumbria and Southern Scotland.

The exhibition is expected to attract 100,000 people while it is here this summer, and is already bringing people to our region from across the country - and the globe - from Melrose to Melbourne.

Some of the first to visit the exhibition were the children from St Mark's school in Westerhope near Newcastle.

They visited the free interactive gallery after seeing the Lindisfarne Gospels for themselves.

However, the aim of this exhibition has from the outset always been about more than just a book in a box and more about putting Durham, and our whole region, on the map.