A BID is being drawn up for a rare collection of books and ancient coins, the jewel in the crown of Blackburn Museum, to be given national designation as 'outstanding'.

The borough council is preparing an application for the special status to put the Hart Collection on a par with Cambridge University's Museum of Zoology, Chetham's Library in Manchester, London's Courtauld Gallery and Lambeth Palace Library.

Being designated an 'outstanding collection' would also allow the museum to apply for grants to make the most of its exhibition in Blackburn and on tour elsewhere in the UK.

The bid, due to be submitted in June, already has the backing of University of London 'History of the Book Expert' Dr Cynthia Johnston.

She was so impressed after seeing it at the 'Cotton to Gold' exhibition which she curated in the capital, she came to Blackburn to see it in its home setting.

It also impressed Arts Council England chairman Sir Peter Bazalgette when he visited Blackburn Museum last month ((JAN)).

The collection includes some of the earliest examples of writing and one of the world’s best collections of coins.

It was given to the town by local industrialist Robert Edward Hart.

Born in 1878 into a family of rope makers, his ambitious collection has been described as 'a complete history of the written word'.

It features everything from stone tablets with early examples of writing, Islamic texts to an early edition of Gulliver’s Travels.

The coins date back to Roman Ancient Greek times, equalled only worldwide by the British Museum.

Sir Peter said: "You've heard of the history of the world in 100 objects.

"Blackburn has the history of the world in 100 coins with its remarkable Hart Collection.

"The place is a treasure."

Blackburn with Darwen Council leisure boss Damian Talbot said: “We’ve always known that our museum has some extremely important pieces and the Hart Collection is the jewel in the crown of its many fine exhibits.

"It deserves national and international recognition.

"This designation will increase the collection's profile outside of Blackburn and crucially allow us to apply for funds to show visitors and residents this fabulous legacy to the town.”