A NORTH Yorkshire museum is finalising plans to make its silver jubilee year memorable.

The Richmondshire Museum, in Ryders Wynd, Richmond, contains the James Herriot exhibition, which has attracted thousands of visitors over the years.

The museum also survived the 2001 foot-and-mouth crisis relatively unscathed although an experiment with free admission for local people over the past 12 months proved a mixed blessing.

As many as 500 Richmond residents took up the offer but the museum saw little benefit in terms of extra revenue.

However, with new opening times and a revised admissions policy planned, managers are optimistic the 25th anniversary year will be a prosperous one.

"Looking ahead, things seem very positive," said chairman Mike Wood, after the museum's annual meeting.

"As we are all volunteers, I think we have done well to keep the books balanced in the past and we have some special events planned this year, which should help bring in some extra visitors."

The museum is working on a Richmond Heritage Day in conjunction with the mayor, Councillor Stuart Parsons, which will be linked to special exhibitions shedding light on lesser-known aspects of the town's past.

The museum reopens for the summer season on Good Friday, April 18. Details of silver jubilee events will be announced nearer the time.