A museum could save artwork that the county council has threatened to dispose of.

Hertfordshire County Council ran a consultation earlier this year which proposed getting rid of 428 works.

Nearly 80 per cent of the art is currently in storage and the remainder is on display in schools, libraries, museums and other public buildings.

However, St Albans Council is now interested in the possibility of showcasing some of the pieces at the new Museum and Gallery, which will open its doors in June.

Richard Shwe, deputy chief executive at St Albans Council, said: “We are aware Hertfordshire County Council has been consulting the public about the future of its art collection.

“We do not have any funds to purchase and manage this collection, in part or as a whole.

“However, the team at St Albans Museums is interested in the possibility of showcasing some of the artworks at the new St Albans Museum and Gallery in the future, subject to funding being made available from external sources to cover the cost of this.”

A Spokesperson for the county council said a decision is yet to be made about how the artwork will be sold.

They said: “Hertfordshire County Council has art that has been collected over many years. The majority of the collection - approximately 80 per cent - is currently in secure storage, with the remainder on display in schools, libraries, museums and other public buildings.

“In 2016 the County Council commissioned an independent review to ascertain which items are important to the cultural heritage of the county. Following a report to Cabinet in November 2017 it was agreed that the collection be rationalised to provide a Hertfordshire significant collection of 167 works that can be effectively managed for the people of Hertfordshire.

“To start with, we're proposing to dispose of 428 works. Later in 2018, we'll develop plans for the remaining 1,231 works that have been identified for disposal.”

The spokesperson added the county council has a responsibility to use its “assets effectively”.

They added: “The majority of the works were part of the Schools Loan Collection which was started in the 1950s. However, the evolving curriculum, modern technology and the interactive approach of local and national galleries and museums has made this service redundant.

“Many of the works are currently in storage, where some are deteriorating and need conservation work.

“We want to dispose of these artworks to ensure that they can be looked after in the future and we can focus on maintaining a small Hertfordshire significant collection.”