THE world-renowned National Fruit Collection is to stay in Faversham, the Government has announced.

The decision marks a triumph for campaigners fighting to keep the precious collection in Swale.

Around 2,000 people signed a petition calling for the fruit to stay in the town, and there was strong support from Faversham Town Council and Swale Council.

Kent County Council backed a rival campaign by Brogdale Horticultural Trust, a charity that ran the site for 18 years, Imperial College and East Malling Research. They wanted the collection switched to East Malling, near Maidstone, because they feared for its long-term security under its present owners.

Defra said the collection would remain at Brogdale Farm for "the foreseeable future".

It also announced that the University of Reading would take over maintenance and "curation" of the collections from next April.

Tony Hillier, chairman of Maidstone-based Hillreed Land, the owner of Brogdale, was delighted with the news, saying it would provide security for local jobs in the rural economy.

"Brogdale Farm is a sustainable tourist location and is currently undergoing the second phase of a £1million facelift which will make it more accessible and attractive to visitors from across the world," he said.

Jeff Rooker, Minister of Sustainable Farming and Food, said: "The long term security of the collections has always been our main priority therefore we welcome the decision for the National Fruit collection to remain at Brogdale.

"Local support stressing the importance of retaining the collections at Brogdale has been continuous since the start of the tendering process and we are delighted with the final outcome and to be working alongside Reading as the new curators."