MORE than £1million has been given to North West arts projects in the latest round of grants, including almost £29,000 for Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery.

About £10,000 will be used to restore 40 Japanese prints from the Museum's collection of 1,100 prints which are in too poor a condition to display.

When the restored prints are exhibited, the museum plans to spend £6,345 to hire a collection of historical kimonos and a Japanese teacher who will explain how they were worn and what they symbolised.

The cash will also restore the huge oil painting "Laying the Foundation of Blackburn Cotton Exchange," which will be part of an exhibition celebrating the borough's 150th anniversary in September.

Stephen Whittle, museum manager, said: "The painting features many of the town's worthies who were prominent in the town when it became an incorporated borough.

"These grants are a real boost.

"Blackburn has superb art and local history collections and we hope to build on this success to attract more grants and sponsors to enable us to put even more works back on display."

The museum will also be able to install an induction loop and facilities for people with hearing and visual impairments.

Chorley and District Arts Association has been given more than £5,000 to record the memories of older people from the villages around Chorley who remember going to rural cinemas, most of which have now been destroyed.

Joyce Morris, Association member, said: "We feel it's essential to talk to people who have these memories now so they can be used for research in the future."