A MUSEUM in Helmshore looks set to be one of the first in Lancashire to benefit from a new award which has been given to the county council.

The county museum service has been recognised as a pre-eminent collection of national and international importance by the Museums and Galleries Commission as part of its Designated Award Scheme.

The award means the service now has access to a £15million government challenge fund - and already a £150,000 grant application has been made to help the refurbishment of the displays at the Helmshore Lancashire Yarns Project, at the town's textile museum in Holcombe Road. Exhibits which have not been on display will be put back on show, a study centre will be created and a gallery for temporary exhibitions will be opened.

Coun Jean Yates, deputy chairman of the county council libraries and lifelong learning committee, said: "It is a great achievement for the county museum service to receive this award.

"This is a fabulous recognition of the achievements of the museums service so far. It also means that money will be made available to us so that we can invest in bringing more collections to Lancashire.

"Hopefully, this award will be the first of many the museums service receives."

The letter of notification received from the panel which bestowed the award said: "The range, quality and variety of the machines was outstanding and the collection was of enormous significance in its coverage of the technical story of the cotton and wool industries in Lancashire and their world-wide importance."

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