PLANS for a new multi-million pound museum which will house some of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast fossils have moved a step forward following an official sod turning ceremony.

The Etches Museum, which will be based in Kimmeridge, will house what is claimed to be one of the finest collections of late Jurassic Kimmeridgian fossils ever assembled in Britain.

Those behind the £4.7m project met yesterday to mark the start of building with a ceremony to turn the first sod.

It is hoped that the museum will act both as a scientific resource and a dynamic new tourist attraction.

The fossil collection includes a number of species new to science. The museum and planned interactive learning centre will enable these fossils to be conserved for future generations.

It also gives people the opportunity to study the fossils in the locality where the specimens were found and where they would have been living around 150 million years ago.

These fossils were discovered and extracted by Steve Etches. He said the project had reached an exciting and historic stage.

He said: “It’s wonderful to see the start of building work and know that the museum will open to visitors next May. We’ve been working towards this for nearly 20 years and I’m very grateful to the many supporters and donors who’ve helped to make the start of building possible.”

“I’m especially grateful to the Smedmore Estate for gifting the land in the village. There’s something special in knowing that future generations will be able to visit, see and learn about the fossil specimens in the locality in which they would have lived and where they were discovered.”

Dr Philip Mansel, head of the Smedmore Estate, has donated the land for the site of the museum, which will also incorporate a new village hall.

Discussing the project, he said: “I’m delighted to have the privilege to support this excellent project to create a permanent home for The Etches Collection and a new village hall for the local community.”

Dr Mansel noted the work of John Woodward, Michael Hobbs, Rob Verncombe and donors who had made the project possible.

He added: “It is wonderful to be able to recognise the achievements of Steve Etches, by the provision of a permanent new home for his collection, providing a base from which Steve, and in the future others, can continue his work discovering, preparing and revealing these fabulous fossils.

“I am delighted that we’ll to be able to make the collection publicly available – locally, in this village, near where these incredible fossils were found, rather than in Dorchester or London - so that everyone can come, see and learn about the stories they tell of deep time.”