LAST year’s Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition in the North-East is in the running for two national awards.

The long-awaited attraction, which brought around 100,000 visitors to Durham University’s Palace Green Library during three months last summer, is up for two honours at May’s Museums and Heritage Awards for Excellence.

It has been shortlisted in the marketing and educational initiative categories.

Meanwhile, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s libraries and heritage service at Preston Park Museum and Grounds is shortlisted for the customer service award.

East Durham Heritage Group is in the running for the restoration or conservation prize for The George Elmy Heritage Project, which has seen the lifeboat which capsized with the loss of nine lives in November 1962 restored and returned to Seaham as the centrepiece of a new tourist attraction.

Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums’ Half Memory project is up for the innovations award.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on Wednesday, May 14.