Magna Carta displayed at castle

A new home for the Magna Carta is planned as part of a �15m revamp

A copy of the Magna Carta, that was on loan to the US, has been returned to Lincoln for a new exhibition.

The document, one of four signed copies of the 1215 charter of rights, has been on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

It has now gone on show at the prison building in Lincoln Castle.

The county council are compiling a £6m bid for lottery funding to create a permanent home for the Magna Carta ready for its 800th anniversary.

The project, which has a budget of more than £15m, would see the new exhibition centre, visitor workshops and the completion of the wall walk.

Councillor Eddy Poll, Executive Member for Cultural Services, said: "It is great to have Magna Carta back in Lincoln, taking pride of place at the castle.

"Magna Carta will be celebrating 800 years in 2015, and by this time we hope to have a permanent housing and exhibition at the castle as part of our redevelopment plans.

"It is a very important document, which still has bearing on today's laws and we are very lucky to have it in the county."