A MAJOR project to conserve more than 100 Bronze Age pots could win a national award.

Wiltshire's conservation service has been shortlisted for the Conservation Awards 2005, which are supported by music legend Sir Paul McCartney.

Louisa Burden, Wiltshire County Council's conservation and museums manager, said: "The project was of major significance in preserving an important part of the country's Bronze Age heritage, and I'm very pleased that the efforts of our conservators over a four-year period have been recognised at a national level."

The ceramic pots were discovered near sites including Stonehenge and Avebury. They urgently needed to be conserved because repairs carried out by the Victorians and later generations were failing.

Past restorations had made use of bizarre materials such as cement and bicycle spokes.

The vessels are on display at Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum and the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes.

Competition winners will be announced at the British Museum, London, in November.