THE long-term future of a Ryedale museum has been secured with a donation of more than 10,000 antiques.

Keen collectors Edward and Richard Harrison have given the antiques to the Ryedale Folk Museum.

The brothers, from Kirkbymoorside, near Pickering, spent nearly 50 years building up their collection, with some pieces more than 400 years old.

The museum, in Hutton-le-Hole, is already looking at securing funding of £1m to provide a display area.

Kevin Simms, assistant manager of the museum, said: "We were really pleased to be given these items.

"These generous donations will help us to ensure the long-term future of the Ryedale museum.

"Our collection dates from the Roman times right through to items which are from modern history."

The Harrisons are members of one of Ryedale's oldest families, who can date their ancestors back almost 500 years.

They have invested heavily in items from antique dealers and market traders from across the country.

Edward Harrison said: "Making the collections has been a life-long passion for us - and it still is.

"We shall never stop buying items we think are of interest.

"Our collection spans centuries of social history - how people lived, what they used in their homes to cook, wash, make a living, as well as what they wore.

"We wanted to give the collection to the Ryedale Folk Museum because it would seem to complement its vast collections which aim to educate people of all ages, as will our collection."

Much of the collection dates from the 17th and 18th Centuries and it contains many unusual items - including an urn in which a dead man's heart was carried.

The collection, which also includes historic wooden carvings, is to soon go on show at the museum.

Plans are to be submitted to the North York Moors National Park for a new exhibit centre at the museum.

Several groups are involved in helping to find funding for it, including The Heritage Lottery Fund and York Archaeological Trust