THE Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes is well on its way to its target of 20,000 visitors this year following a campaign backed by the Gazette.

Since the Gazette published the museum's offer of free admission to anyone bearing a copy of the county's best-read newspaper, over 1,000 people have visited the museum in Long Street. The talk on Stonehenge by archaeologist Mike Pitts was a sell-out.

The museum relies heavily on subsidies from Wiltshire County Council and Kennet District Council but must attract 20,000 visitors a year to get its full grant aid.

Last month the museum was 3,500 visitors short but trustee Rick Rowland said that, since the Gazette's campaign began, the museum is on track to hit its target by the deadline of March 31.

He said: "The Gazette has helped dispel the belief that the museum is a musty repository of old artefacts.

"Good museums, and we have an excellent one in Devizes, bring the past to life with imaginative exhibits that encourage the visitor to understand what life was really like hundreds and thousands of years ago."

Mr Pitts said that funding the museum became more difficult each year. "This is why we are inviting everyone in town to come, learn and show that they are proud of their museum, particularly in the next two weeks," he said.

The museum is planning three more special events this month.

On Saturday, children can build and fly their own water-propelled rocket ships in a workshop organised as part of Science Week. On the same day at 2.30pm, archaeologist Roger Ayres will talk on recent excavations at Silchester, Hampshire.

On March 27 at 2.30pm, Ann Woodward talks about Barrows In The Landscape. More information can be obtained on (01380) 72736.