Award-winning director Ken Loach is to be a special guest at this summer's Durham Miners' Gala.
The I, Daniel Blake filmmaker, known for his politically-charged films tackling social injustice, will be giving a reading at the annual celebration of local mining heritage.
His attendance, on July 13, will mark another return to the North East where Loach - following the success of I, Daniel Blake - shot his latest film Sorry We Missed You which won rave reviews at its premiere at Cannes in May and is due for release in the UK this autumn.
And Loach said he is "honoured" to take up his invitation to read at the Gala' s Durham Miners’ Festival Service which will be held at Durham Cathedral at 3pm on the day.
He will read a lesson from the Bible at the service which marks the 150-year anniversary of the formation of Durham Miners’ Association.
Loach said: “It is an honour to be asked to be the reader at this year’s Miners’ Festival Service as part of the Gala.
"I can’t think of a more impressive occasion or a more magnificent cathedral.”
This year will be the 135th community Gala - also known as The Big Meeting - and, as in previous years, the Cathedral service promises to have a rousing atmosphere as a procession of of colliery brass bands and community banners fill its Norman Nave.
New banners from both the Horden and Blackhall Lodge will be making a debut in the procession and the Durham Miners’ Association itself will be showcasing a new anniversary edition.
Tradition sees the banners blessed during the service, which always reaches capacity so those wanting to join the congregation are advised to arrive early.
The Very Reverend, Andrew Tremlett, Dean of Durham, called the service a highlight of the Cathedral calendar and DMA secretary Alan Mardghum said: "We are delighted that Ken Loach, a great supporter of ours, will give this year’s reading on behalf of the DMA."
A new feature film, The Big Meeting, has been made to mark the 150-year anniversary and it had its premiere this June in Redhills' Durham Miners Hall. It will go on general release in cinemas later this summer.
For more information about the Durham Miners’ Gala Festival and service see here and more about what's on at the Cathedral can be found here .
