RECORDS of Worcestershire families and businesses can now be viewed by internet surfers across the globe thanks to a national initiative.

Anyone logging on to the Access to Archives website, or A2A, will be able to browse through more than three million documents from 169 UK sources.

The project, led by the British Library, the Historical Manuscripts Commission and the Public Record Office, aims to make viewing catalogues of the UK's record office holdings user-friendly to internet surfers.

Worcestershire County Council's cabinet assistant for culture and community, Councillor Stephen Clee, said the authority was excited about the project.

"The A2A website will allow anyone with internet access anywhere in the world to search through our Record Office archives and track down specific documents," he said.

"It will allow quick searches for family or business records, and the majority of records held in Worcestershire for that matter. The catalogues are not available elsewhere on the net, so the A2A website is really unique."

Coun Clee said the council was very proud to have been included in the project.

"I'm particularly keen to promote this work which can be seen from all over the world," he said.

The website is at www.a2a.pro.gov.uk