They were produced by Eadfrith, Bishop of Lindisfarne, and are regarded as one of the most important books in history.

They are dedicated to St Cuthbert, who rose from humble beginnings to become Bishop of Lindisfarne.

A replica of the gospels is currently on show in the region.

Mr Donald said: "When looking at an ancient artefact, any archaeologist worth his salt wants to know the provenance of a discovery and its relationship to its surroundings.

"The Lindisfarne Gospels belong back in the North East, in context, where they came from."

But the British Library said it has a statutory duty to preserve the gospels.

A statement said: "The gospels are of fundamental importance to a heritage that reaches far beyond the region in which the manuscript was produced.

"The British Library Board would be seriously derelict in its obligation to provide access to these manuscripts for people of all faiths and nationalities, if we allowed this collection to be broken up by removing one of its greatest treasures."

Meanwhile on Thursday - St Cuthbert's Day - members of the Northumbrian Association were using a traditional pilgrimage from Chester-le-Street to Durham Cathedral to highlight the campaign.