AN £8,500 funding package for Tenby Museum and Art Gallery aims to help increase visitor numbers.

The money comes as the museum gets ready to celebrate its 140th anniversary.

The funding has come from Arwain Sir Benfro, the Local Action Group for Pembrokeshire, administered by Planed.

It is being used to conduct feasibility studies to give the trustees ideas for ways to ensure a sustainable future for the museum.

With the aid of the funding, and with a generous contribution from the Friends of Tenby Museum and Art Gallery, as well as volunteer help, the museum has commissioned Headland Design to carry out visitor surveys to find out what people want of their local museum.

Said museum trustees chair, Michael Williams: "We want to increase visitor numbers and look forward to another 140 years, and I hope the local residents will join the museum on its journey and continue their support.

"Looking to the future, and with a view to creating more community spaces and extended display and family research areas, the grant enabled the trustees to commission a local architect to develop some new ideas on what the layout of the building could look like."

The funding has come via the Welsh Government-funded Leader programme.

Said Leader project officer Kate Lindley: "This is just one example of the great projects being delivered in the county. Planed, now celebrating its 30th year, has helped communities in Pembrokeshire to access over £25m worth of funding during that time.

"Arwain Sir Benfro is currently supporting project ideas from local community groups, organisations and businesses.

"As the Local Action Group for Pembrokeshire, we bring together a mix of local community representatives, business, third sector and local authority partners.

"We designed, and are now implementing, the Local Development Strategy for Pembrokeshire."

For more details about Leader, contact Planed on 01834 860965 or leader@planed.org.uk