AN ambitious bid to create a new £750,000 home for Bury's military museum is already well under way.

The Fusilier museum is expected to leave its roots at Wellington Barracks for a state-of-the-art Heritage Learning Centre at the Castle Armoury in the town centre by the year 2001.

Staff believe the massive fund-raising appeal to help finance the move could reach the £100,000 mark by the end of the year - just eight months after it was launched.

About £15,000 has already been raised, with almost £6,000 coming from officers and ex-servicemen in the regiment.

Now confirmation has been received that more than 100 letters dating back to the Crimean War will be auctioned at Sotheby's in December.

The letters, which throw new light on the fateful Charge of the Light Brigade, are expected to fetch at least £40,000, although the final figure could be in excess of £60,000. Eighteen of the 156 letters which mention the 20th Lancashire Fusiliers will be retained by the museum. Although the Lancashire Fusiliers were not involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade, they were present as support to the cavalry.

Museum custodian Tony Sprason said: "This is really going to boost our fund. By the end of the year we hope to be near to £100,000. We have been told the letters will definitely raise £40,000, but it could be much, much more."

The museum is looking to raise £350,000 in total, and will appeal to the National Lottery for the remaining £400,000.

Once settled into its new home, the museum is expected to become a major tourist attraction within the town's culture quarter. It will chart the history of the Fusiliers from their formation in 1688 to the present day and, using the latest technical wizardry such as touch-screen displays, will provide a learning and research facility for students.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.