Plans for the creation of the Museum of British Surfing in Braunton, North Devon have received a boost after the Charity Commission approved the attraction's application to become a registered charity.

A purpose-built facility, which will be home to one of Europe's first permanent surfing museums, is set to open next summer after the scheme received planning permission from North Devon District Council. Economic delivery agency North Devon Plus is helping to secure core funding for the Museum of British Surfing project, which has received support from the Surf World Museum in Victoria, Australia, and the Surfing Heritage Foundation, California, US.

Peter Robinson, a former ITV news reporter and founder of the museum scheme, said: "This is a massive boost for the museum. It is recognition of Britain's surfing heritage and our status as the national body to preserve and celebrate this amazing history on behalf of the British public. "It is also formal backing for the work we are planning to do on education, the environment and health through surfing."