PEOPLE across Dorset are being urged to trace their family history.

Those interested in discovering their roots are being invited into county libraries this autumn to begin the hunt.

Librarians across the county are offering help and advice to anyone who would like to find out more about their genealogical tree.

Bridport library's Jane Read says county council-run libraries have a wealth of information that can help people find out where they came from.

She said: "We have books on family history, people can look up old newspapers, we also have some records of marriage and people can of course use the Internet free to trace their family."

Mrs Read says the county-wide initiative is timed to coincide with the BBC television series Who Do You Think You Are? in which celebrities such as birdwatcher Bill Oddie and newsreader Moira Stewart trace their ancestors.

She said: "There's already quite a lot of interest in family history, but to help people see how to do it, several library staff who have already done their family tree have made displays - I've already put mine up."

Although she didn't turn up any Oliver Cromwells or Dick Turpins, Mrs Read did find out a few interesting facts about her family, going back to 1752.

"I found one person who died in a workhouse and a few illegitimacies, but that's nothing unusual. I also found one mysterious death in 1844, which I have yet to investigate.

"It's all detective work, it's about asking 'how can I find out about these people?' It's absolutely fascinating."

While some people can spend a lot of time on their projects, Mrs Read says it doesn't have to take over your life.

"If you just want to go back a couple of generations it need not take long - you can do it quite quickly if you have family still alive.

"If you want to follow all the different lines and find out everybody's occupations it can take as long as you want. I know people who have gone back to the 1500s."

Amateur historians can check records of the 1901 census at any library, while larger branches have more detailed records going back further.

Mrs Read said many librarians can offer advice about tracing family roots but before going to a library the best place to start is the older members of your family.

She said: "Write down what you know and what you can find out from what elderly relatives can remember, but always keep an open mind - sometimes people don't remember things too well."