Two million historical artefacts are to be moved from sheds to a new Lincolnshire museum, following the announcement of National Lottery funding.

The artefacts, ranging from an Iron Age sword to a Bronze Age canoe, are currently stored in "environmentally-safe" sheds in Lincoln.

The recently awarded heritage money puts the fundraisers in Lincoln close to their goal of �11.9m, which means the new museum could open in the next few years.

Project director Jonathan Platt says the artefacts are safe, and researchers are working to get them ready for display.

Stone tools

The current County and City Museum, which opened in 1906, is housed in tiny premises.

"In the new location, we will be able to tell the story of Lincolnshire from earliest time to present," Mr Platt said.

Conservation work is under way

Some of the more interesting relics include stone tools from the Iron Age, and Roman coins, swords, shields, bits of mosaic and preserved leatherwork from 1,900 years ago.

The seven-metre Bronze Age canoe was found near Fiskerton and was made from an oak tree some 2,500 years ago.

Many of the Iron Age artefacts were found in the River Witham in Lincoln, possibly deposited there as part of religious ceremonies, Mr Platt said.

He said that three years' planning had already gone into the project.

A final fundraising drive of �200,000 along with �3m in European money will be enough complete the museum.