Donations made by visitors to Upton-upon-Severn Heritage Centre last year amounted to £240.

The centre, which is manned by volunteers was open on weekday afternoons and some mornings from May to September and attracted 5,100 visitors.

The number was down by 1,300 on the previous year and there were noticeably fewer overseas visitors, reflecting the nationwide impact of foot and mouth disease.

Morris Hope-Stone, reporting to the town's annual meeting, said a donation box had been introduced for the first time and the money raised would be used to improve the exhibits.