KINGTON museum volunteer Ben Richards wants to cut to the chase in his bid to find out more about a mystery sword.

Believed to bear the date 1907, the bayonet is among exhibits on display for the forthcoming season at the museum.

Kington's famed elephant bones remains a high profile treasure, and a display of the area's mills and a collection of ancient coins continue to draw interest.

An in-depth look at the wartime American military hospital near Kington, and its later role in providing temporary homes for families displaced by the conflict, is enhanced with a 'touch-screen' facility.

Curator Sally Mansell said the museum would be introducing a 'QR' system enabling visitors to trace more detailed information on individual artefacts through a type of barcode system.

The 110-year-old sword can be found among pieces largely dating from the First World War.

Twenty-one-year-old Ben is keen to find out more about it by researching the letters and numbers engraved upon the blade.

"We have a lot of items dating from the First World War, including pieces on loan from Lady Hawkins' School," says Sally.

"We know very little about the bayonet so Ben has taken up the task of researching it.

"It seems to bear the date 1907 but we have put it with the 1914 - 1918 exhibits."

There is a fascinating collection of letters and bills dating back to the 18th century which were discovered during renovations of a shop in Kington High Street, and a model of the town's former railway station, complete with stationmaster's house and tracks is certain to enthral again this season.

The independently-run museum relies on donations and fundraising efforts, and is highly regarded in the town it reflects and by visitors to the area.

Opening hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10.30am - 4pm; Wednesdays and Saturdays 10.30am - 1pm.