THE town council in Marlborough is preparing an inventory of its historic assets to prevent any going missing.

On Monday the finance and general purposes committee backed a suggestion from former mayor Stewart Dobson that a list of all of the council's valuable possessions should be drawn up.

As it was Coun Dobson's suggestion he was volunteered by his colleagues to draw up the list.

Coun Dobson said he had been concerned over the whereabouts of a valuable old doll presented to the council when it took over the Priory Gardens.

The doll belonged to the late Mrs Thomasine Clay who presented the gardens to the town 20 years ago.

It was kept for many years in the Jubilee Centre, which is attached to The Priory. Coun Dobson said he noticed the doll was no longer in the centre but had discovered it had been moved into The Priory for safekeeping.

On Monday he told colleagues: "This sort of thing can easily go astray."

Looking around the council chamber Coun Dobson observed there were only four pewter plates on display where there had once been several more.

He said: "Over the years we have lost quite a few items of historic importance to the town and it would be nice to update the records of what we do have."

Chairman Ian Perryman said: "We would then have a special meeting to discuss what we are going to do with the things on the list."