Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had a medical practice in Portsmouth

Richard Lancelyn Green, who died in March, left his entire collection of 20,000 items worth more than �2m to Portsmouth's library service.

Mr Lancelyn Green collected everything he could about the author for 40 years.

He chose to give the collection to Portsmouth because of Conan Doyle's strong connections to the city.

Richard would have been very pleased that Portsmouth is the final resting place for his eclectic and amazing collection Scirard Lancelyn Green

Portsmouth was not only where Conan Doyle had a medical practice but he also wrote his first two Sherlock Holmes books there.

The collection includes a small medical book by a Doctor Sherlock which is believed to have been the inspiration for the name of Conan Doyle's detective.

Mr Lancelyn Green was a prominent figure in the Sherlock Holmes Society.

His will stipulated that the collection should be housed together and that he wanted it offered first to Portsmouth's library service.

There are items as diverse as film scripts, programmes, photographs, jigsaws, videos, posters, toby jugs and mugs Sarah Quail Portsmouth City Council

His brother, Scirard Lancelyn Green, said: "It's truly fitting that Richard's life work should go to Portsmouth.

"Conan Doyle wrote the first two Sherlock Holmes stories there, so in some way his work is going home.

"Richard would have been very pleased that Portsmouth is the final resting place for his eclectic and amazing collection."

Sarah Quail, of Portsmouth City Council, said: "I'm thrilled to be receiving this outstanding collection on behalf of the city council. It contains something for everyone.

"Scholars and researchers will find a wealth of original manuscripts and documents.

"There are items as diverse as film scripts, programmes, photographs, jigsaws, videos, posters, toby jugs and mugs."

The collection will be catalogued by Portsmouth city museums and records service and will eventually be housed in the Central Library.