HIDDEN treasures will be rescued from dusty store rooms when a museum has its £500,000 face-lift.

Work to expand Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery is to begin after the Easter break and be completed in early 2003.

Of the project's total cost, £374,000 has come from the National Lottery and the rest from other local agencies.

The new area is actually a section of the museum -- founded in 1874 -- which was closed off several years ago.

The museum and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council felt there were too many artefacts stored away out of view.

Kate Hollern deputy leader of the council and executive member for culture, leisure and sport said: "We got Lottery funding because they felt we had a lot to show and offer than the space and facilities provided."

Among the treasures are three stained glass windows and a 17th century suit of armour inlaid with gold.

The two extra galleries will include a display on the history of Blackburn focusing on the lives of ordinary people.

Curator Stephen Whittle said: "The social history gallery will be based round local personalities -- stereotypical early mill owners and people who've worked in factories and their individual stories."

The rest of the museum will remain open while the work is being done.

Now on display is an exhibition of work by artist Peter Cunliffe, who first showed his work at the museum in 1970.