A 'BATTLE plan' to secure a permanent home for the Staffordshire Hoard in the region was due to be drawn up at a meeting today.

The haul of 1,500 individual items was uncovered by Terry Herbert, in a Staffordshire field in July.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has joined forces with Staffordshire County Council and Birmingham City Council to bring the Staffordshire Hoard back to the county.

The authorities were due to meet today to discuss their case with Government agencies and historians at a summit organised by West Midlands Regional Minister, Ian Austin.

Mr Austin said: "The impact of having the Hoard in the region would be incalculable in terms of tourism, education and heritage, but we are going to need to pull together and work harder than ever before."