POPULAR TV historian and archivist Robin Bush officially opened the Wiltshire Local History Fair at Steam.

The larger-than-life history enthusiast from the hit Channel 4 show Time Team told a packed audience at the museum yesterday about the importance of delving into the past.

"It's a joy to come to Swindon and open the fair and spread the message about the importance of local history," he said. "It's fun that's why I've been interested in it for so many years.

"I was nine when George VI died and remember reading a magazine that published a family tree of all the monarchs from that moment I was hooked.

"Revealing the past is really fascinating and it gives me great pleasure to support a drive like this."

The inaugural fair, which is free and runs until tomorrow, is part of a national celebration, Local History Week, organised by the Historical Association.

The fair unites local historical societies, the County Records Office, the local history library, research groups and local enthusiasts.

Manning the Wiltshire and Swindon Records Office stall was Steve Hobbs, who said: "This fair demonstrates the value and importance of local history. The idea is to explain what we local societies do and encourage people to get interested in delving into their history."