AN EXTENSIVE photo-graphic archive is to be digitised for easy access thanks to a £29,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Frodsham and District Local History Group has a collection of more than 8,000 images dating from 1850.

The entire catalogue and a selection of 300 images will be accessible through the National Archives A2A website. Some of the grant will be used to second a teacher to develop learning materials linked to the National Curriculum at Key Stage 2 using the digitised images.

This will enable children to learn about the history and heritage of Frodsham.

The project will involve teachers, schoolchildren and an exhibition of the youngsters' work.

The grant also allows the purchase of a digital camera so volunteers can capture the changing environment of the area.

The images will form part of the final exhibition.

Maggie Jones, chairman of the group, said: 'At last, with the grant, we can go ahead with the long-term preservation and conservation of our wonderful images.'

Group president Sir Alan Waterworth said: 'I would like to congratulate all those who have worked so hard to secure this funding, which is going to make our vast and unique collection of photographs available to people all over the world.'

The group received a congratulatory letter from Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall wishing the group well in its work on the project.