A PROJECT celebrating images of Leominster and its surrounding villages taken by a Victorian photographer has netted a £40,000 funding boost.

VIEW+ charts the work of Thomas Henry Winterbourn and will be used by volunteers and family heritage events.

Schools, community groups and history societies could also benefit while workshops will include help on how to interpret the images.

It is hoped the three-year project, leading up to the 100th anniversary of the First World War being declared, will give all ages the chance to learn what life in the county was like in previous generations.

The money, from the Heritage Lottery Fund, will go to community interest company The Share Initiative (TSI) which is backing the display of Mr Winterbourn’s work.

Scanned images of around 8,000 glass plates will be used.

“Only half of the Winterbourn archive has been scanned so far with amazing stories being revealed,” said Paul Haley, director of TSI.

“We are delighted to have received the support of both the Heritage Lottery Fund and Herefordshire Heritage Services and are confident that VIEW+ will bring an enormous legacy to the people of Herefordshire.”