Gaydon motor museum on 'exceptional cultural collection' list

The Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire contains vehicles dating back to 1800

A motor museum in Warwickshire has been added to Arts Council England's "exceptional cultural collections" housed in non-national institutions.

The Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon claims to own the world's greatest number of historic British cars.

Others on the list include an archive of Churchill's work and a museum dedicated to the history of surgery.

Established in 1997, the Designated Collection scheme is aimed at making exhibits more accessible to the public.

The Arts Council, which described the selected displays as "telling significant stories from England's rich history", has invested more than £32m in the project over the past 17 years.

The Heritage Motor Centre features vehicles produced from 1800 to the present by manufacturers including Austin, Morris, Mini, MG, Wolseley, Riley, Triumph, Rover and Land Rover.

Curator Stephen Laing said he was "thrilled" by the recognition.

Arts Council England is funded by the government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the National Lottery.