THE home of medieval monks, pioneering canals and the birthplace of the chemical industry, Halton has a long and rich history.

A new project celebrating the history and heritage of working life in Halton has received £55,200 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

'Working Lives: Working Together’ will be led by public and voluntary sector groups in a new partnership.

It focuses on the working lives of people in Runcorn and Widnes since 1800.

Halton Clr Phil Harris, board member for the arts, said: "We want to capture personal stories and experiences before they disappear from our older community members and share them too.

"Along the way, Halton people will build new connections, learn new IT and people skills and extend audiences through the new groups.”

Community heritage groups will team up with Halton’s public collections to extend and enhance an online museum.

They will create a shared heritage strategy, adding new records, objects, images and documents.

Residents will be invited to share their memories.

Frank Lawless of Widnes Historical Society said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund are confident the project will bring together all ages across the community to share their pride in our heritage.”

Sara Hilton, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund north west, said: “This project will allow the people of Halton to enrich the existing collection immeasurably – not least by making it well and truly public.

“We are committed to helping communities learn about and take pride in their local heritage. We are delighted to support this project.”

Halton Council’s libraries service, arts development team and committee services team which manages the civic collection will work with community heritage groups to develop the project.

Visit haltonscollections.org.uk to see Halton’s online museum.

Halton Council received the funding on behalf of the Halton Heritage partnership.