RODBOURNE: A Swindon-based charity has reached a membership of five million.

The National Trust, which is headquartered opposite the Retail Outlet Village, hit the milestone this month.

It has taken the charity six years to recruit an additional million members - having previously taken 86 years to reach its first million.

Tim Parker, chairman of the National Trust, said: “We now have more members and visitors than at any time in its history, with a million people joining in just the last six years alone.

“That suggests the country’s love affair with its heritage and great outdoors has never been stronger. In the busy, noisy world we now live in perhaps it’s never been more important to escape to the peace, beauty and inspiration of our places.”