The Art Fund, which invested more than £4.4m to support the purchase of nearly 150 works of art last year, has reported a record number of new members signing up in 2011.

With the help of its National Art Pass, a total of 18,000 people joined the Art Fund over the past 12 months - an increase of 15 per cent on the previous year.

Among the works to be bought by UK museums and galleries with the help of the Art Fund last year include The Frome Hoard of Roman coins for the Museum of Somerset.

Art Fund director Stephen Deuchar said: "Our success with the National Art Pass in bringing a 15 per cent growth in membership this year has shown that the public's appetite for great art remains undiminished."