'SAVING a heritage from near extinction' is the subject of a talk organised by the West Devon Association of the National Trust (NTWDA) next week.

The talk, by local historians Gerald and Irene Williamson, takes place at 2pm on Thursday, February 20 in Bridestowe Village Hall, and follows their previous fascinating talks on a similar equine theme.

It explains how, after the Second World War, the world of horse drawn transport had all but disappeared and how, with the forthcoming Queen's Coronation in 1953, the organisers were faced with the huge logistical challenge of gathering sufficient coaches together with the requisite horses from all over Britain for the two mile long procession to Westminster Abbey.

This, in turn, led to the revival of the driving horse for pleasure and resulted in the formation of the British Driving Society, of which the current patron is the Duke of Edinburgh.