DIRECTOR Judy Lindsay is leaving Dorset County Museum after five years at the helm.

She will be leaving Dorchester in August to return to London.

Ms Lindsay said: "I have had more than five years at this amazing museum. I've worked with fantastic staff and all the volunteers.

"I shall miss them enormously. The museum has 180 volunteers and they do wonderful work and I see them as friends as well as willing workers here."

She said highlights of her time as director at Dorchester included the opening of the Jurassic Coast Gallery by Sir David Attenborough.

She said: "That was really memorable, especially being able to have your family meet Sir David Attenborough."

Ms Lindsay, 33, also counted the recent successful campaign to buy three George Romney portraits of Thomas Rackett and his parents, among moments to treasure.

And she said she was pleased that the development of events for children had proved one of her legacies with a thriving Museum Club and regular events for youngsters well established.

She had also organised sleepover events for children on themes including dinosaurs and Anglo-Saxons.

Ms Lindsay, who lives in Dorchester, said she enjoyed working on exhibitions at the museum and was planning a full programme of events and exhibitions before her departure.

She took over from curator Richard de Peyer, who left before her appointment, and from marketing manager John Grantham, who stepped up to the role temporarily.