A fundraising campaign has been launched to save the Staffordshire Hoard for the West Midlands.

In July last year a metal detector enthusiast discovered the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found, in a Staffordshire field not far from Birmingham. News coverage of the find was huge – and over 40,000 people queued to see the Hoard in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, before it went to London for study by the British Museum. The Hoard includes over 1,500 incredible objects – all apparantly drawn from the battlefield and displaying breathtaking craftmanship, from a period of our history described as the Dark Ages.

But for the Staffordshire Hoard, a final battle remains. We have just 12 weeks to raise the £3.3m needed to secure its future on public display in the West Midlands. If we fail to do this, the treasure will be returned to the finder and landowner and could end up being sold on the open market. But if we do raise the money, it will go on display at  Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke.

I’m making a contribution. I feel that the Staffordshire Hoard is a priceless connection with our past and should be kept together near to where it was found. I’m also sure that it will act as a magnet drawing more visitors to our City, giving our economy a boost. If you want to make a donation you can do so online at www.artfund.org/hoard