AT the weekend the world stopped and remembered the 1,514 lives that were lost with the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

In Wotton-under-Edge the town has not only commemorated that fateful night in April 1912 but is also hoping to highlight its links to one of the worst maritime disasters in history.

Wotton Heritage Centre, on the Chipping, has a new exhibition on the Titanic complete with a model of the ship’s bow built by local volunteers.

Dr Anastasia Hackett, curator at the centre, said with the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking it was right for the heritage centre to explore the town’s links.

She said: "The Titannic has a lot of wide interest. It has captured people’s imagination because a lot of people were affected by what happened that night. There was profound shock that it went down the way it did.

"They only had 90 minutes to get a bunch of panicking people onto life boats which they didn’t have enough of."

The Titanic exhibition, which will be on show in Wotton until August 15, includes information about those who survived and those who did not, the famous passengers and those who were not so well known.

One passenger of interest to Wotton is first class steward 26-year-old Albert Derrett, a former Blue Coat School pupil. Albert had previously served on Titanic’s sister ship the Olympic.

Dr Hackett said: "He stayed at his post and did his job until the end. His body was one of the many that was never found."

The exhibition also has posters, adverts, and menus from the Titanic, as well as the model of the ship’s bow.

Another local Titanic legend the heritage centre is keen too exploit is the believed link between The Star Inn and the White Star Line, which built the Titanic.

Legend has it that John Cambridge, son of the landlord at The Star Inn, left for Prince Edward Island, Canada, to set up a timber business for ship building and called it the White Star Line.

The legend has it that when the company struggled it was bought out and became the White Star Line, which built the Titanic.

Dave Baird, chairman of the Wotton Historical Society which runs the heritage centre, said: "The truth is no one really knows but that’s the story that many local people believe and it’s good to have local legends."

In recognition of the legend the Star Inn on Market Street, has changed its sign to include a picture of the Titanic.

Wotton Heritage Centre is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am-1pm, and 2-5pm, and Saturday 10am-1pm.