POTTERIES-BORN billionaire John Caudwell has offered to buy the Wedgwood Museum collection to make sure it can remain on public display at Barlaston.

Mr Caudwell's offer came in the wake of a High Court ruling on Monday that the historic collection can be sold off to help plug a £134 million pension fund deficit linked to the collapse of Wedgwood itself.

The tycoon, who founded mobile phone empire Phones4U, said: "If the trustees don't find any other way of solving the issue, then I will attempt to buy the entire collection and keep it in situ for the foreseeable future, and continue with public access.

"It is vital that such an important piece of history and heritage remains in the Potteries."

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