A multi-million pound centre could be built in County Durham to cater for the boom in interest in local and family history.

The popularity of the subject is putting a strain on the County Records Office, which gets 10,000 visits a year.

The local studies section of the Clayport Library, in Durham, has also become increasingly busy.

Durham County Council is looking at the possibility of building a centre where people could delve into historical and archaeological records.

Officials said the Heritage Lottery Fund had expressed interest in funding the project and would welcome a first stage application.

Today, the council's cabinet will be recommended to approve the scheme in principle and develop a bid for funds.

Council director of culture and leisure Patrick Conway said: "User interest and demand in family history and archaeology has grown dramatically in recent years.

"There is now an urgent need for these activities to be consolidated and expanded to meet user expectation and aspiration.''

The council has backed schemes such as the Durham Miner Project, which encourages and helps people, particularly those who may have not studied before, to look into the county's industrial past.

Many old records are being computerised so they can be viewed by a wider audience.

Mr Conway said: "All of this cultural activity is reliant upon the continued collection, preservation, and interpretation of the original material.

"This work is now under pressure.

"The key resource of the County Records Office, with all of its archives, is now reaching capacity.

"The visitor facilities for this resource no longer meet community expectations and are booked ahead for weeks in advance, compromising access to the service."

Mr Conway said that the county's archaeological collection was also under pressure and that a new home was urgently needed.

He said: "There is potential to develop the centre into a substantial visitor attraction, building on existing attractions such as Beamish and the Durham World Heritage Site.

"It would bring the associated economic benefits to the county, helping to develop a critical mass of visitor appeal.''

The project could be phased in over several years.

A potential location for the centre has yet to be found