The life of Victorian fossil hunter Mary Anning is celebrated in her home town of Lyme Regis this month.

The woman, pictured right, whose work led to changes in thinking about prehistoric life is remembered with a programme of activities and talks organised by the Lyme Regis Museum. Mary Anning Day, a Lyme Regis Artsfest event is on Saturday, September 24.

Talks in the Marine Theatre begin at 10.30am when museum fossil experts Paddy Howe and Chris Andrew display and describe recent fossil finds around Lyme.

At 2.30pm Richard Edmonds of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site team explores the economics of fossil collecting.

At 3.30pm Tom Sharpe of the National Museum of Wales discusses the friendship between Mary Anning and Henry de la Beche, founding director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain.

The evening programme begins at 6.30pm with ‘200 Years of Botanical Discovery in the Amazon’ by renowned botanist Sir Ghillean Prance, a former director of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

This is followed at 7.30pm by a talk by Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl With A Pearl Earring, who will also give readings from her own writings.

There is also a guided walk on the day and children’s activities in the museum.

The museum will be open, free, from 10am to 5pm. Tickets for talks in the Marine Theatre are on sale at the Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre.