DORSET County Museum is urging local people to rise to the challenge and support a new fundraising appeal.

The Dorchester museum is starting a fundraising drive for a new Collections Discovery Centre that will house its three million artefacts and give the public better access.

Plans are still in the formative stages but the campaign has begun with the museum offering people the chance to have a plaque on its magnificent main staircase.

Anyone who donates £100 to the development appeal will be able to put a personalised plaque on the staircase as well as receive free entry to the museum for 12 months and have their name added to the development appeal donation register.

The campaign has been staunchly supported by Antiques Roadshow star Paul Atterbury, who made a donation to secure the first plaque upon which he had the name of his great uncle Lewis who died at the Battle of the Somme.

Mr Atterbury said he was delighted to be able to support the museum’s appeal.

He said: “I’m honoured to have the first plaque,.

“To me this is a great museum for all sorts of reasons and it offers so much both to locals and visitors.

“This is a very good fundraising initiative because we have all got someone we want to remember.”

Museum director Dr Jon Murden said a personalised plaque for someone could make a unique Christmas gift.

He added: “All the proceeds from these plaques are going towards the development appeal and the Collections Discovery Centre.

“There is still a long way to go on that but before we can start to get applications together for major fundraising bodies and things there is a lot of groundwork to be done.

“Without this initial phase of fundraising we wouldn’t be able to get anywhere.”

Dr Murden said the museum had an almost unique set up with a small core staff supported by nearly 200 volunteers and he hoped to draw on that community spirit and support from the public as the appeal moved forward.