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The glories of South Devon's past are being promoted by the technology of the future via a new website.

Torquay web firm Luketom.com have designed and built the new site for Torbay Civic Society, who are hoping it will lure younger generations to appreciate the region's history.

The society erects and maintains blue plaques adorning historic locations in Torbay, providing information on heritage values or places where well-known figures lived or worked.

Civic society chairman Ian Handford said he hoped the site would raise awareness.

"Initially we were very sceptical about how the society could benefit from having a new website," he said.

"However, after talking with brothers Luke and Tom Hutton it soon became evident that it could be a fantastic vehicle for us to raise awareness.

"Firstly for the society and secondly to promote and create interest in all of the historical places Torbay has to offer.

"The site will give viewers an easy way to plot their whereabouts and might event tempt people to visit them for their historical value."

The site has an interactive map providing locations of all the plaques, while leaflets on each one can be ordered online. Tom Hutton, who worked on the design of the site, said they had worked to balance the needs of the younger and older patrons.

He said: "The challenges of the site came because the old site was very dated, so we needed to bring it into the 21st century.

"We realised that it needed to be quite broad and bring in a younger element without losing the older patrons."

Luke Hutton, of Luketom.com, said the society would manage the site with adverts and events. He said: "I've worked with Ian on a lot of projects over the years, and, yes, I am trying to drag him into the 21st century. "But when he realised just what we could offer the society through the website he didn't take long to come round."

The site can be viewed at www.torbaycivicsociety.co.uk