LOCAL MP Michelle Donelan visited Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre last Thursday June 6 to see its latest acquisition.

Following a £2,500 grant from the Victoria and Albert Museum, the museum was able to acquire Henry Cliffe's Corsham, Evening from 1957.

The purchase was also supported by Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund Creative Wiltshire project.

Miss Donelan said: "This is great news for the museum. This important and relatively rare work has strong local connections.

"Henry Cliffe trained at the Bath Academy of Art, based in Corsham during the 50s and 60s. There are few pieces of his work in which Corsham is the subject and title.

"It is a huge achievement for the museum to have obtained this funding and to have been able to acquire the painting and congratulations must go to Chippenham Museum Collections Officer Alan Fuller and Curator Melissa Barnett who instigated this project."

She added: "All museums, and especially those embedded in their local communities are an essential part of the fabric of our society.

"They transform lives through public participation and Chippenham Museum is no exception."

The museum is housed in an18th century building in the town's historic market place.

There is a currently an exhibition of local artwork and the curator and staff regularly put on exhibitions and display of local interest as well as children’s activities, walks, talks and special events.