Data from the long-lost BBC Domesday project will be made publicly available at The National Archives (TNA) Library at Kew within the next three weeks.

The BBC project was established to mark the 900th anniversary of William the Conqueror's Domesday Book and was intended to provide a snapshot of British life across two video discs.

But changes in technology over the last 20 years mean data on the community disc and national disc has become inaccessible.

TNA's specialist team met with preservation researchers Camileon, and developed an interface that could be used to access BBC Domesday.

But copyright issues mean TNA's application only provides access to the community disk's maps, images and text files.

'As far as the community data goes, we've got clearance from BBC Worldwide, who are the owners of the rights,' said Jeffrey Darlington, project manager for digital preservation at The National Archives (TNA).

UK museums and libraries could use the system and the finished community DVD could also be sold to the public.

'We would hope to do that but we have to work in conjunction with BBC Worldwide because they have the rights to the community disc data,' said Darlington.

TNA is hoping to provide access to the national disc data next year.

Darlington says Camileon's emulation system could be used as an interface.

'If you wanted to look at the national disk soon, then the best option is probably the emulator,' he said.