Jane's Ring Saved

On 2 August I reported that culture tsar Ed Vaizey had slapped a temporary export ban on this rare turquoise-and-gold ring known to have belonged to Jane Austen (CLICK). It had been bought at auction by US pop singer Kelly Clarkson for £152,450. An anonymous donation of £100,000 got the public appeal off to a flying start. Jane Austen's House Museum has announced that its appeal has now raised the readies to save the ring for the nation (CLICK). This is a small private museum in the 17th-century house where Jane Austen lived for her last eight years. It's in the village of Chawton near Alton in Hampshire. The museum hopes to have the ring next year. CLICK for a BBC video.