CREDITON Area History and Museum Society's bid to open a museum and heritage centre in the town has been successful.

The society held a temporary exhibition in The Old Town Hall, High Street, Crediton, opening with this year's Crediton Festival and continuing through the summer.

The exhibition was very well supported and encouraged the society to seek funding to enable it to open the museum permanently.

The society submitted grant applications to the Town and County Councils and the Devon Community Foundation.

Last week the society was told its application for £5,000 worth of funding to open a museum and heritage centre in Crediton's Old Town Hall during the next two years to the Devon Community Foundation had been successful.

A total of £20,000 has been raised for the project.

Work is now in hand to prepare the building in time to open permanently at Easter, 2010.

The society's chairman, Mrs Adele Cox, told the Courier: "Twenty-five years after our Society was established with the primary aim of opening a museum in Crediton, we have achieved that aim.

"We are absolutely delighted and so grateful not only to the people of Crediton area for the support they have given the project but also to the Devon Community Foundation, the Town Council and our local county councillors for their generous help.

"Paul Tucker, Mid Devon's Grants Officer and neighbouring museums have also provided very valuable advice and encouragement."

The society's archivist, John Jones, said: "The local trust that owns The Old Town Hall has been most helpful and we are looking forward to a mutually supportive relationship which will endure for many years.

"We are fortunate to have the use of such a suitable and historic building in the centre of town."

Crediton Mayor, Cllr Frank Letch, said that the museum and heritage centre will be a "real lift for the town and will draw more people to the High Street."

Crediton Area History and Museum Society holds regular lectures in the town, which are very popular.

It plans to develop displays and exhibitions at the new museum to complement these lectures and hopes to attract a greater membership and more visitors.

However, the society says it will need to raise more funds to ensure that the museum and heritage centre's future is guaranteed.

To this end, the society is applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund for particular resources to help improve the services offered to users of the museum.

Later it plans to include family history research opportunities.

Anyone requiring more information about the project, or who is able to help, is invited to contact Sandra Cooper on 01363 776502 or email [email protected]">[email protected] .