A COUNTY Durham country house is one of ten hotels to have been selected nationwide for a collection celebrating their history and iconic locations.

Redworth Hall Hotel, near Newton Aycliffe, has been picked by Newcastle-based Cairn Group for its launch of The Cairn Collection.

The ten have been selected on a number of criteria, including the historic design and fabric of the buildings themselves, their locations and the service offered by each hotel team.

Vince Johnson, general manager of the four-star, 143-bedroom Redworth Hall Hotel, said: "Our hotel is a perfect fit for the portfolio – with our blend of stunning Jacobean architecture and modern comforts in a peaceful rural location."