VENUES in County Durham are taking part in a three-day event to help create new opportunities for disabled people.

Disable Access Day 2017 is taking place between Friday, March 10 and Sunday March 12.

It is aimed at celebrating venues with good disabled access and create opportunities for people to try something new.

This is the third time it has been held at venues across the country.

Among those taking part are Durham Cathedral, Beamish Museum and the Oriental Museum in Durham city.

At the cathedral any visitor with a Disabled Access Day newsletter will get a 10 per cent discount in the shop and Undercroft restaurant.

At the Oriental Museum in Durham city, a touch tour is being held between 7pm and 9pm on Friday, March 10.

The free tour is designed for people with visual impairments and visitors will be able to touch and handle a range of objects from the collection. It is led by a curator who will talk about the object’s history and significance.

Booking is essential by calling 0191 334 5694 or emailing oriental.museum@durham.ac.uk.

The event is sponsored by Euan’s Guide, a listing and review site which helps disabled people, their friends and families know which venues are accessible.

Kiki MacDonald, co-founder of Euan’s Guide, said: “We were inspired by the idea of Disabled Access Day and the potential for it to increase the numbers of conversations between venues and disabled people, as well as to raise the profile of disabled access.”