Prominent professor Irving Finkel is to give a talk on personal diaries and their history at the Aylsham Town Hall.

Dr Finkel, 71, works at the British Museum, and collects diaries as a side interest.

His Aylsham appearance will be part of an exhibition of diaries at the town’s heritage centre called Today, which is running until October.

Dylan Jonas Stone, 56, who owns the diary collection and lives in Cromer, has known Mr Finkel for around 10 years. 

Mr Stone said: “He collects diaries, and he saw a review of the previous time I did this exhibition in New York, and that’s when he got in touch.” 

Dr Finkel’s most famous discovery was of a tablet telling of a ‘great flood’, similar to the story of Noah's Ark, from the ancient Middle East. 

The talk, called The Great Diary Project: Rescuing an Endangered Species! will take place at 7pm on May 24.

The cost is £5 and there is no need to book.

The heritage centre, in Aylsham Parish Church's yard, is open on Monday 10.30am to 1pm, Tuesday to Friday 10.30am to 3.30pm, and 10.30am to 1pm on the first Saturday of the month.