The fate of thousands of artefacts will soon be decided as the region's council looks to distribute them among communities in the area.

Items stored away by the old Lowestoft Borough Council became property of Waveney District Council (WDC) in 1974, when the local council system was reorganised.

More than four decades later the extensive collection is still stored away in a secret location, and now the district council is trying to find them all a new home.

Stephen Ardley, WDC's deputy leader, said: 'I've suggested that Lowestoft Town Council and Oulton Broad Parish Council have first pickings on the former Lowestoft Borough items, before asking other individual councils and parishes what they would like.

'If councils can't host them, there is the potential to go out to businesses, pubs and community groups. A register will be kept to keep track of all the artefacts and recipients will have to justify receiving them.'

Sonia Barker, leader of the Waveney Labour Group, added: 'It's important to take a cautious approach because these artefacts represent the identity of the area.'

Shona Bendix, Lowestoft Town Council clerk, said: 'The artefacts are being kept safely in a secret location. They are no longer in the Town Hall, which has been left empty by the district council and is now pending plans for development by the new owners, Lowestoft Town Council.

'Lowestoft Town Council is delighted that the district council has announced a consultation on the future ownership of the artefacts and will be considering which it believes should be safeguarded by the town council for Lowestoft people at its meeting on May 8.'