VISITORS to an East Lancashire museum are set to see twice as much thanks to a £374,000 National Lottery grant.

The money will enable staff at Blackburn Museum, in Museum Street, to totally refurbish their exhibitions, creating space for twice as many objects. Two galleries will receive particular attention.

The local history gallery, which is popular with residents and schoolchildren alike, will be renovated.

It will focus on the development of Blackburn and Darwen from the early 18th century as a major industrial centre, looking at the social problems that were created and contrasting the experiences of ordinary people and the ruling classes.

The gallery will incorporate sound and audio-visual elements with key characters from the towns' past telling their own stories.

The Hart Gallery, which specialises in more rare exhibitions, will also be redesigned, enabling it to show twice as many objects at one time.

Medieval manuscripts, Japanese prints and other rare artifacts will go on display.

A new lift to the Hart Gallery, which is on the first floor, will also be created to make access easier.

The installation of the redeveloped galleries is planned for April 2002 and will take about six months to complete.

The new galleries will contain audio guides, computer access to reserve collections and visitor interaction items. Stephen Whittle, curator at the gallery, said: "We are delighted with the news we have secured this funding.

"It is 100 per cent of what we asked for and it means we can do so much more to make the museum and art gallery more attractive to people.

"On our mezzaine floor, we hope to create a world culture gallery which will be used by schools.

"We also want to install computers so people can look at our reserved collections."

He added: "One of Lancashire's greatest, but little known treasures, the Hart collection contains medieval illuminated manuscripts, Persian miniatures, almost 10,000 coins, some of which are extremely rare, and early printed books such as the Gutenberg Bible.

"For the first time the Museum will also have space to display a changing selection of the 1,100 Japanese prints given to the Museum in 1944 by Thomas Boys Lewis, who also gave the town the Lewis Textile Museum.

"On a mezzanine floor in the Hart Gallery we will be creating a World Culture Gallery featuring artefacts from China, Japan, Africa, Australia and around the world."

The bid is the result of 18 months work, although the National Lottery Heritage Fund only asked for final submissions earlier this month.

Local artists will also have more chance to show off their work. One such artist is Joey Parkin, who will be exhibiting her work from September 29.

According to publicity, her favourite medium is acrylic and her work is said to 'embody raw emotion and energy.'

Her work is on display until October 27.