PLANS to create a brand new home for the borough's glass treasures took a giant leap forward today (Thursday April 7) with the naming of the new museum.

After inviting members of the public to submit suggestions for the name of the new £5.5million attraction in Wordsley, which is currently under construction, glass industry experts have voted to call the facility the 'White House Cone - Museum of Glass'.

The British Glass Foundation felt the idea, submitted by former councillor and glass campaigner Lynn Boleyn, epitomises how they want to portray the new museum which they hope will become a local landmark and put the area on the international map.

Graham Fisher, spokesman for the British Glass Foundation, said: "This name is an encapsulation of the history of the Stourbridge glass industry, where it's located and what we hope to achieve in the future - it says it all."

Auctioneer Will Farmer from Fieldings Auctioneers in Stourbridge and a familiar face on the Antiques Roadshow, chaired the meeting at Wordsley's Red House Glass Cone attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Dudley where the historic decision was made.

He said: "This is such an important decision and I feel incredible honoured and proud to have been part of it. This museum I'm sure is going to live long after most of us are gone."

Work to create the new museum on the old Stuart Crystal factory site in Camp Hill, opposite the cone, is now gathering pace - and glass enthusiasts steering the project forward say they are on track to open the sparkling new facility in June.

It will launch initially with pop-up exhibitions and visitors will be able to see glass artist Allister Malcolm in action as the borough's prized glass collection is gradually shipped in for permanent display.

Set to replace the now closed world-famous Broadfield House Glass Museum in Kingswinford, the new glass-fronted tourist attraction will also include office space for new business start-ups and an open courtyard area outside.

Complex Development Projects is behind the state-of-the-art development, funded by a £2.13million European Regional Development Fund grant, which includes sympathetic restoration of listed former Stuart Glass Works buildings and efforts to preserve the remains of the old White House Glass Cone, which once stood on the site and which is classed as an ancient monument.

Mr Fisher, from the BGF, said: "It's looking great; it's virtually finished. We're looking to open in the middle of the year - and it will be fully up and running in the next 18 months."