DARWEN Library’s exhibition of original oil paintings, watercolours and pastels by James Morton has been completed with the addition of two more works from the Peter Scott Gallery at Lancaster University.

‘The Lady in Blue’ and ‘Knott Street’ were selected by Harold Heys of the Friends of Darwen Library when he visited the university recently.

Curator Richard Smith arranged for them to be mounted and framed and took them to the library to join another 20 Morton originals. A collection of Morton’s work, mainly drawings, was bequeathed to the university several years ago.

Librarian Mary Painter said: “I don’t think either has been displayed here for at least 40 years. They have been attracting a lot of interest.”

Meanwhile, the friends group are arranging for a second, short run of their book on Morton this Christmas, which was a sell-out earlier this year.

Morton, of Sudell Road, was a sergeant with the East Lancashire Regiment when he was killed just before the end of the First World War.