TOWNELEY Hall staff have been given reason to celebrate after the Arts Council announced it was to maintain its full accreditation.

The museum and art gallery, in Towneley Park, Burnley, met the criteria set down by the scheme, which rates governance, plans and policies regarding the collections, and the usage of the collections by the public Councillor John Harbour, Burnley Council’s executive member for leisure and culture, said: “We’re really pleased to be rewarded in this way. It shows the public what hard work goes on behind the scenes to make Towneley Hall such a popular visitor destination.”

A spokesman for Burnley Council said: “The scheme sets agreed standards for museums in the UK, and helps them demonstrate their commitment to manage collections effectively for the benefit and enjoyment of users.

“It is regarded as one of the most innovative and effective developments in the museum world, and shows that Towneley has reached a high professional standard.”

Ken Darwen, the museum’s manager and Mike Townend, its senior curator, were among those present to receive a certificate from the Arts Council earlier this week.