A LONG-awaited project celebrating Burnham's history and heritage has been given a cash boost of £25,200.

North Sedgemoor Local History Group (NSLHG) wants to develop a heritage trail and online archive for Burnham, called 'Capture Burnham'.

The group has just been awarded the tidy sum from the Heritage Lottery Fund, alongside a further £1,500 given by Burnham and Highbridge Town Council for the project.

John Strickland, the group's chairman, said: “We are thrilled to have received the award and to have the opportunity to involve people of all ages with this project.

“We've been trying to get this going for the past few years and other groups have really moved things along.

“We look forward to receiving nominations from the public, which could include personal memories, objects or places.”

Families are being asked to nominate items for inclusion in the archive, while the group develops the history trail, set to feature 30 locations.

The trail will use QR codes so visitors with smart phones can connect with information online, with a leaflet for the less technology savvy.

Nerys Watts, head of the HLF in the South West, said: “The long history of Burnham stretches back to before the Roman era, and is dominated by the influence of the sea, whether through land reclamation and flooding, shipping or as a holiday destination.”

The funding application was made with the support of the U3A of Burnham, the Town Council and media charity Somerset Film.

The project will officially launch at a free event at the Princess Theatre on February 8 from 7pm. To book, call 01278-784464. The group hopes to complete the project by August 2014.

The history group meets every second Wednesday of every month at The King Alfred School, Highbridge.