A NEW director is at the helm of Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum.

He is Adrian Green, former curator of Bromley Museum Service, who has taken over as director at Salisbury from Peter Saunders, who retired earlier this summer.

Mr Green, an archaeologist by training, has had more than ten years experience working in museums, and is the sixth person to be director of the Salisbury museum since 1860.

After completing an MA Museum Studies course at Leicester University, he became curator of archaeology at Peterborough Museum. He later went on to the Museum of London, where he was involved in developing the London before London gallery - a new exhibition about the capital's prehistoric past.

One of Mr Green's challenges over the next few months will be to develop a new strategic plan, which will set out how Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum will move forward over the next three years. Initial ideas include plans for exciting new galleries and temporary exhibitions, which will be part of a drive to increase visitor numbers.

After his first week in the job, Mr Green said: "I feel really fortunate to become director of such an important museum. I am passionate about archaeology, especially prehistory, so Salisbury is the perfect place for me to work.

"I have much to learn about the running of the museum, but thanks to the support of Peter Saunders and the rest of the team I am beginning to find my way around. In terms of the future I want to build on all the excellent work that has been done here, and make sure that the museum continues to thrive as both a tourist attraction and a focus for the local community."