Winchester City Museum will celebrate its 100th anniversary next month and it's inviting people to take part in a competition .

The museum, located at the entrance to Cathedral Green, has brought the history and archaeology of the area alive for many thousands of visitors after opening its doors in October 1903 as one of the first purpose-built museums outside London.

The Museum Service is asking people to simply describe, in 50 words or less their favourite object on display at the museum, their favourite part of the museum or any memory they have of the museum in times gone by.

Organisers hope to choose one winner from each decade of the museum's history to be guests of honour, with their friends or family, at the 100th anniversary reception on October 15.

"We hope those who haven't visited recently will take this opportunity to have a look and describe what they have enjoyed," said Cllr Therese Evans, Cabinet member for community services.

"We are also keen to hear from people who visited the museum in earlier decades, and would like them to jot down their memories."

Entries, contact details and decade of birth, can be sent by post to Winchester Museums Service, 75 Hyde Street, Winchester, SO23 7DW, or by completing a form available at the City Museum, the Westgate, the Guildhall Gallery and the Historic Resources Centre in Hyde. Entries to be in by October 8.