HISTORIAN John Booth has given Russia a piece of heritage.

He has donated an original hand coloured map depicting the path of the River Dwina as published by Englishman Moses Pitt in 1680.

Mr Booth has been collecting antique maps of many parts of the world for the past two decades but now has decided to dispose of his collection.

He said: "As a military historian I am well aware of the enormous contribution made by the Russian people in the Second World War.

"As a tribute to their memory I am more than happy to present the map and I will be delighted to see it returned to the country of its origins."

Last Friday two members of the Russian Embassy made the trip to Westbury to take collection of the three hundred year old map.

Attache Ilya Lysenko said: "Russia takes pride in its heritage and we are delighted to receive this highly decorative framed map.

"It depicts the area in north Russia which is now a shipbuilding area and we will arrange for it to be hung at the principal building in Archangel."