DORSET museums have scooped a chunk of a £200,000 lottery windfall to boost a Jurassic Coast project.

The Dorset County Museums Advisory Service, backed by coastal museums in Dorset and Devon, made a bid called Jurassic Life to the Heritage Lottery Fund for cash to buy and display fossils in museums.

The bid was one of only six that received the maximum £200,000 and the only one from the south west that was successful.

Cllr David Crowhurst, Dorset County Council cabinet member for community services, said: "We are exceptionally pleased that this bid has proved successful.

"It is very good to see a wide partnership of large and small museums working together to improve their collections and bring new stories and treasures to museum visitors."

Museums that are set to benefit include Swanage.

David Tucker, county museums adviser, added: "We are very grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their support for Jurassic Life.

"This funding will put spectacular, locally-discovered fossils in local museums for the benefit of residents and visitors.

"I think it is marvellous that people will be able to see such startling evidence of amazing animals near the seas in which they once lived."

Richard Edmonds, earth science manager for the Jurassic Coast, was a key member of the bid team.

He said: "There are a great many fossils out there, some of huge scientific and educational value and I am absolutely delighted that this level of support has finally been secured for local museums."

As well as funding the purchase of fossils, the cash will make sure that they are displayed and made accessible to all and there will also be a range of learning programmes and events associated with the Jurassic Life project.

Organisers hope to bring the scheme to life within two years.