CREDITON Museum will re-open at The Old Town Hall on Saturday, April 17.

Members of Crediton Area History and Museum Society, which is behind the project, say work is progressing well ahead of the opening date.

Project manager John Jones, said: "The research we have done so far indicates that our choice of theme for this year's exhibition, 'Fire, the destroyer of history - Crediton Area Fires from the 1600s to the present day', will yield an enormous amount of interesting and fascinating information about the town.

"The fact that we have obtained grants enabling us to open the museum permanently has led to a lot of increased interest in our plentiful history and people are coming forward in greater numbers than ever before with information and material."

The Society's collection of photographs is expanding and research into newspapers and other publications over the centuries has identified considerable information about devastating fires in the town and area throughout history and how they were fought.

Mr Jones added: "We are immensely grateful to people who have come forward with new information but we would especially welcome further copies of related photographs, press cuttings as well as related artefacts like fire fighting equipment, fireman's helmets, fireman's uniforms, axes and even World War II Stirrup pumps etc."

If you can help, please contact John Jones on 01363 772866 or email: [email protected]">[email protected] .

The area which will house the museum, in the Old Town Hall, has been redecorated and is being fitted out to take the exhibition.

After the opening date, the museum will be open from 10am to 4pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.

More volunteers would be welcome to help out at the museum. Anyone who has an interest in local history and would like to be involved is invited to contact Sandra Cooper on 01363 776502 or email [email protected]">[email protected] .