THE formation of the new South West Heritage Trust has reached a key milestone, with the successful recruitment of a chairman and shadow board of trustees.

Devon and Somerset County Councils are transferring their heritage services, which include archives and local studies collections in Devon and similar collections plus three museums and the Historic Environment Record in Somerset, to a newly created Heritage Trust.

Creating a joint independent charitable trust is seen as the best way to ensure a strong future for the heritage services of both counties.

As part of an open and wide recruitment process, over 60 people attended an open evening at the Museum of Somerset to find out more about the role of the board of trustees, and there were over 30 expressions of interest.