DURHAM Cathedral is quite literally helping to build the labour movement by recreating the the Miners’ Gala in Lego — complete with mini hand-embroidered trade union banners and band members.

The Lego Miners’ Festival Service aims to celebrate the proud local labour history of Durham while raising money for Open Treasure, a new public exhibition showcasing the cathedral’s historic medieval buildings.

For over a century trade unions and local people have marched through Durham to celebrate the struggles and victories of the miners and wider labour movement, ending with a service at Durham Cathedral.

The Lego Miners’ Gala follows on from the construction of a 300,000-brick model of Durham Cathedral in Lego to raise money for the cathedral, where members of the public can add a brick to the replica for £1.

Gayle Kirby of Durham Cathedral said the miners’ festival service “is a vibrant and joyful celebration of County Durham’s mining tradition, and is incredibly important to both the Cathedral and the local community.

“The miners’ banners produced by the cathedral’s broderers are exquisite, and we can’t wait to see the miners’ festival service recreated in Lego.”

And marketing officer Catherine Hodgson told the star that the Lego model aimed to “celebrate the county’s heritage and celebrate the local trade union history.”

The Lego replica of the miners’ festival service currently has four trade union banners and has so far raised £300,000.

Individuals and community groups are invited to sponsor Lego figures.

• For more information about Durham Cathedral and the exhibition, visit durhamcathedral.co.uk