A Suffolk museum has reopened for the summer season after the first phase of repairs were carried out to the building.

The Long Shop Museum in Leiston closed in November to enable works to take place to secure the infrastructure of the museum for at least the next 30 years, before resuming operations on Tuesday.

A statement on the museum's Facebook page said: "The builders are finished, the paint is drying and we are busy dusting, cleaning and returning exhibits to cabinets.

READ MORE: Long Shop Museum in Leiston will lose core funding

"This is our 40th year as a museum and we will be holding a weekend of celebration over June 21, 22 and 23."

In March, museum director Fraser Hale said the works would include the reroofing of the Long Shop, repairing and replacing windows and installing a new surface drainage system.

The initial phase of construction was meant to be completed by the end of March, but bad weather meant the reopening had to be delayed. 

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The second phase of repairs will be carried out when the museum closes again for winter with the work expected to be fully completed by April next year.

Mr Hale said: "The Long Shop is delighted to at last be able to open for the 2024 season.

"Although the building work took longer than planned, its impact can now be enjoyed by our visitors.

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"We are grateful to all the funders, the technical design team and our contractor, for helping to secure the future of the museum."

In January, Mr Hale described a county council decision to cut funding for arts and museums as 'short-sighted' as he revealed the Long Shop faced losing £14,000 - 10% of its budget.