16525/1WESTBURY residents are being encouraged to dig their gardens and rummage through their attics in search of history.

A What Have You Found? day is being organised by Westbury Visitor Centre for archaeologists to pass an expert eye over the finds.

Westbury Heritage Society chairman Ivan Clark hopes the event will boost interest in local history.

He said: "You never know what you might find in your garden or house. This is a chance for people to investigate history for themselves.

"We hope to have two archaeologists there to look at the finds and see what they are and how old they are.

"If they can do that, with the finders' permission we'll take them away and get them looked at more closely.

"We shall also have a microscope, which will be connected up to a screen so the finds can be blown up."

While he hopes many will be able to get digging in their gardens, Mr Clark said there are less strenuous ways of taking part in the event.

He said: "We are also looking for local photographs where they don't know who the people in them are. We can add these to the displays we already have and hopefully answer a few questions.

"The centre was set up for community projects like this. We are keen to get as many people involved as possible and make the visitor centre a big part of the community."

Budding archaeologists can bring their discoveries to the visitor centre in the High Street between 10am-1pm on February 26. For more information on What Have You Found? or other events at Westbury Visitor Centre call (01373) 825784.