NATIONAL museums have seen a huge surge in visitor numbers since admission charges were scrapped late last year.

The National Railway Museum (NRM) in York saw its visitor numbers shoot up in December, with 15,000 more visitors that the same month the year before, an increase of 109 per cent.

It was the museum's highest number of visitors since 1976, when admission was also free. The charges were introduced in 1987.

The NRM's £7.50 charge for adult admission was scrapped after Chancellor Gordon Brown plugged a loophole in VAT laws.

A spokeswoman for the NRM said: "We are delighted and hope this will continue. There was a real buzz about the place in the pre-Christmas period.

"We have been voted European Museum of the Year, and free admission means many more people can now come and enjoy the attraction."

Though national museums had long campaigned to let visitors in free, tax laws would have meant they lost out financially.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said the news was good for the city.

She said: "It is an added incentive to come to the city, and it strengthens the message that York is good value for money."

Other national museums have also seen visitor figures rise since charges were abolished at the start of last month, with some saying numbers had increased fourfold.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said: "These figures show what a spectacular success the scrapping of admission charges to our great national collections has been.

"Free admission has democratised the nation's treasures, making them accessible to all. That has to be good for our children, for students and for those who simply want to enjoy these wonderful exhibits."