English Heritage wants the public to help decide how the nation's archive of historical images should be organised.

The National Monuments Record Centre, based in Kemble Drive, Swindon, has launched a major review, asking people about its services.

The £20,000 national consultation will enable the NMR, which holds more than six million photographs of English heritage, to decide its future for the next five years.

Nigel Clubb, director of the NMR in Swindon, said: "We hope as many people as possible take part in the review. We are really interested in what people think."

A consultation paper is being sent to main users of the NMR, which maintains a national database of indexed descriptions of monuments and buildings, including maritime records.

The NMR services can also be accessed via the internet.

In March a website, called ViewFinder, was introduced, bringing more than 20,000 hitherto unseen images to the information highway.

Mr Clubb said: "The survey asks how people want to access material.

"We expect the way ahead to involve more online projects.

"But not everyone has access to the internet and this will be taken into consideration when conducting the review."

The acclaimed architecture of Swindon's Railway Village features in ViewFinder, which celebrates English working life.

The England at Work archive offers an insight into Coopers Oxford Marmalade Factory, along with photographs from the Henry W Taunt Collection, revealing traditions in Oxfordshire between 1860 and 1922.

The images come from an archive of some 10m photographs held at the English Heritage offices in Swindon.

Members of the public can also download the consultation paper from the internet.

People have until February to respond, ready for a report on findings to be released in Spring.

If you wish to receive a consultation paper, send an email to NMRreview@English-heritage.org.uk or see the website www.NMRreview.org

Or contact the National Monuments Record Centre on 01793 414600 to request the paper.

Victoria Tagg