A MUSEUM is about to celebrate the completion of a £500,000 improvement project.

The project at Ryedale Folk Museum, at Hutton-le-Hole, on the North York Moors, will be finished by Friday, November 18, after which the public will be able to view the changes.

A new gallery has been created for art exhibitions and major works have been completed to the museum's early 17th Century manor house.

A workshop has been built for maintenance of the museum and to renovate machinery and artefacts. Purpose-built storage space will also allow the museum to care for the many objects not on display.

A farm machinery store has also been turned into an education block, incorporating a study centre and a Victorian schoolroom.

Assistant manager Kevin Simms said: "It has been a huge amount of work. but it has all been worth it."

As well as boosting visitor numbers, it is hoped the revamp will also attract more volunteers.