A QUILT museum launched in 2008 has announced it is to close after struggling to generate enough income from visitors and business ventures.

The Quilter's Guild said the museum on Peasholme Green in York would close at the end of October 2015.

The guild has provided financial support to the museum through its own reserves and fundraising activities, but says those funds cannot give the museum a sustainable long term future.

President Vivien Finch said: “The decision to close the Quilt Museum and Gallery is profoundly disappointing, but we can take comfort in the knowledge that since it opened we have welcomed over 75,000 people to over 50 exhibitions and introduced many visitors to the joy of quilts and quilting. In addition, we have taught sewing skills to over 8,000 children and adults.”

Before the closure, visitors will be able to enjoy the exhibitions planned for 2015 including a major exhibition with American textile artist Kaffe Fassett entitled Ancestral Gifts.

In a statement, a Guild spokesman said they would continue to care for the collection of historic and contemporary quilts and look for a location where the public can see the quilts on pre-organised visits.