A regional daily’s project to digitise three quarters of a million photographs in its archives has moved a step further.

The scheme set up by the Express & Star, in Wolverhampton, aims to make the pictures, which span the length of the title’s 140 year history, freely available to the public.

The plans are being developed by the Express & Star in partnership with Wolverhampton’s university and city council, after securing £59,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the project in June.

A Friends of the Express & Star Photo Archive group has now been set up and volunteers are now being sought to help develop the scheme.

Express & Star brand and communications manager Chris Leggett said: “The plan to preserve this historic collection for future generations has been based on the fantastic support shown by the public to date.

“Local people appreciate the importance of the photographs which Express & Star staff have taken in our communities over the years.

“The Friends group will be the sounding board for the plans as we look to secure the next level of Lottery funding, which will allow the partnership to begin the mammoth task of digitising each of the photographs, many of which are starting to be affected by their age.”

Members of the Friends group will be asked to give their views on the digitisation proposals, while organisers also plan to hold talks on the project and open days for supporters to see the collection first hand.