Hoard fund is now at £825k

The fund to keep the Staffordshire Hoard in the West Midlands has reached £825,000, it was announced today.

Those behind the campaign to hold on to the discovery of Anglo-Saxon gold say they are still confident of reaching their £3.3 million total within the next two months.

Four councils – Staffordshire, Lichfield, Tamworth and Birmingham – and the Art Fund charity are leading the drive.

They hope to put the hoard, found near Brownhills, on permanent display in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

They will find out on April 17 if their efforts have been successful – and face the prospect of the artefacts being split up and sold if they fail to raise the cash.

Councillor Martin Mullaney, Birmingham Council's cabinet member for leisure, said: "We still have some way to go though and I would urge anyone interested in keeping this unique collection where it truly belongs to support the Art Fund appeal."

The treasure was discovered by a metal detectorist on the Burntwood/Brownhills border in July 2009.

The gold is on display at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, where visitors have donated £75,000 to the fund in the last week.