THE scaffolding is up as work starts on vital repairs to the roof at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery.

The £554,700 replacement scheme comes ahead of the cultural icon celebrating its 150th anniversary in next year.

When it first opened its doors in 1874, it was one of the first purpose-built free museums to open outside London.

Today Grade II listed building in Museum Street, houses a collection covering fine art including paintings by J M W Turner, decorative art, Egyptology including a genuine mummy, coins, manuscripts, natural history, social history and South Asian artefacts.

Its birthday next year will be celebrated with new events, exhibitions and activities boosted after the museum was awarded Arts Council Portfolio status worth £440,000 of funding over the next three years.

The roof repairs, originally estimated at £465,000, are expected to last nine months.

They are being paid for by a £365,000 Arts Council grant and £189,700 from its owner Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The museum will remain open throughout the works, although access to the first floor will be restricted.

The council's deputy leader Cllr Quesir Mahmood said: “It’s fantastic to see these improvements underway ahead of the museum’s special birthday next year.

“Back when the museum first opened, the whole aim was to bring culture to the people of our borough and for free and as we look to its 150th birthday, we’ll continue to do just that while further building on its success.

“Having a strong cultural offer is important to us as a council and for our future growth plans for our town centres.

“A fantastic example of that is the National Festival of Making which will once again return to Blackburn next week, with the museum being a key venue."

The full roof will be repaired and replaced as it is in an extremely poor condition with water leakage risking damage to not only the fabric of the building but the valuable collections and exhibitions.

Leaks have caused internal damage to the original plaster work in the galleries limiting the display of paintings from the museum’s extensive collections.

One roof lantern will be repaired and one replaced.

Entry to the museum and art gallery is free and its opening hours are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between noon and 4:45pm with free activities during the school holidays