THEY may have been built 2,000 miles away from Wellington and 5,000 years ago, but the pyramids of Egypt will be the focus of attention for local residents next week.

In particular, the story of the world’s first pyramid will be told at a public talk on Thursday, April 27.

Janet Diamond will explain how, where, and why it was built when she speaks in Wellington Prep School Hall, in South Street.

Janet, who lived in Egypt in the 1980s and has a diploma in Egyptology and a passion for the history, architecture, art and landscape of Egypt, will describe the early burial practices of the Egyptians and give a ‘guided tour’ of the Step Pyramid of King Djoser, in Saqqara, 15 miles south of the Egyptian capital Cairo.

Djoser, a man of great vision, power, and wealth, was also the subject of the world’s first full-sized statue.

The talk starts at 7.30 pm and is open to anybody to attend, with entry priced at £3 for members of Wellington Local History and Museum Society and £4 for non-members.