Ambitious plans for the development of a multi-purpose heritage centre in Devizes remain on course.

The multi-million pound project would combine the resources of six organisations and would store Wiltshire's records, including archives held about Swindon's past.

Set to open within four years, it would also include the Royal Photographic Society, which would move from Bath.

Although the chosen site is beside the canal at Devizes, both Chippenham and Swindon have expressed an interest in being host.

The head of Wiltshire library services, Pauline Dyer, told county councillors that there is still a huge amount of work needed on the scheme and she warned that extra staff will have to be designated to help with the preparation.

Officers, including representatives from the county, Kennet district and Swindon borough councils, along with senior officials of the RPS, visited a four-month-old records office in Essex this week.

Miss Dyer said that they learned a lot from the visit information that could prove useful in the Wiltshire centre.

The prime mover of the scheme is the county council, which must move the Wiltshire and Swindon record office from crumbling buildings in Trowbridge.

It is hoped that the new wharfside centre will also house: the Wiltshire Buildings Record; Wiltshire Victoria County History; Kennet and Avon Canal Trust; and Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Trust.

A newsletter is being produced to keep all parties informed of the progress.

It says that 50,000 visitors are expected each year and that the services will share equipment and pool expertise on ICT access.

A bid for financial support has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the organisations involved in the prestige development have started their own fund-raising.