A POP-UP art gallery is to stage an exhibition by amateur and professional photographers, including pictures by the town’s MP.

WillyNillie, a community interested company that took over the premises of a vacant sweet shop in Chester-le-Street last July, will host the show "From The North East To New Guinea", which opens to the public on Monday (Dec 23).

The exhibition features a collection of 30 works by five local photographers, including Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham and a keen amateur photographer.

The not-for-profit gallery was set up by Sharon Gallon, Anne Proctor and Miranda Peterson as a three-month volunteer-led venture, aiming to encourage art in the local area.

It now offers regular arts classes, performances and exhibitions for local artists and members of the public and operates on a semi-permanent basis.

Among the artwork on display are photographs by professional photographers Jonathan Keys and Paul Cordes, who used Victorian cameras printing directly onto sheets of glass to capture the people and sights of the North-East.

Kevan Jones will display his winning photographs of Papua New Guinea from the All-Party Parliamentary Photography Competition, which celebrates photographs taken by politicians as part of their parliamentary experience.

Sharon Gollan said: "The classes and exhibitions have proved really popular and as a result we have secured funding from the Police Crime Commission to support projects in the New Year".

The exhibition will run until January 18 in WillyNillie, 156b Front Street, Chester-le-Street.