Representatives of museums and libraries in Suffolk have spoken of their joy after receiving nearly £3m in Government funding for improvements.

The biggest grant went to The Food Museum in Stowmarket, which received £1,409,600 for infrastructure and maintenance work, while The Long Shop Museum in Leiston also received more than £1m for repairs.

Suffolk Libraries has been awarded £219,000 from a separate fund to pay for the creation of an online tool providing tailored recommendations for people looking to find out more about local activities.

East Anglian Daily Times: Jenny Cousins, director of the Food Museum at StowmarketJenny Cousins, director of the Food Museum at Stowmarket (Image: Submitted)

Food Museum director Jenny Cousins said the money would enable the museum's Collection Store to be re-roofed and re-clad and repairs to woodwork and roofing on listed buildings, including the Grade II-listed buildings Abbot's Hall and Victorian Stables.

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Toilet facilities will also be improved with the cash from the Department for Culture Media and Sport's (DCMS) Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), which is being administered by Arts Council England.

She said: "We’re overjoyed to have this opportunity to solve some of our long-term issues and substantially improve collections care and the visitor experience."

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East Anglian Daily Times: Trustees and staff at Long Shop Museum celebrate their funding award, including L-R: Russ Rainger, vice-chair of trustees, Jane Fenoulhet, trustee, Angela Leonard, chair of trustees, Alan Cardy, trustee and Fraser Hale, museum director.Trustees and staff at Long Shop Museum celebrate their funding award, including L-R: Russ Rainger, vice-chair of trustees, Jane Fenoulhet, trustee, Angela Leonard, chair of trustees, Alan Cardy, trustee and Fraser Hale, museum director. (Image: Fraser Hale/ Long Shop Museum)

The Long Shop Museum was another beneficiary of the MEND fund, with the money needed to fulfil a comprehensive programme of repairs and restoration to the 250-year-old buildings.

The project will address urgently needed repairs to roofs, walls and windows, with the result that the museum’s buildings will be more accessible and sustainable.

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Angela Leonard, chair of museum trustees, said: "This project is the result of careful planning and preparation and we are thrilled that DCMS and Arts Council England have recognised the cultural and commercial benefits that this award will bring to East Suffolk."

The library money came from Arts Council England's Libraries Improvement Fund and will pay for 'Discover More', a tool using artificial intelligence to link people with activities that will improve their happiness and wellbeing.

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Suffolk Libraries chief executive Bruce Leeke said: "We’re hugely excited by this funding which will help us further develop this exciting project".