THE Cogges Manor Farm Museum at Witney is cutting its season ticket prices in a bid to get more visitors through the gates.

It is the first definite move by the museum, which has been making losses of £250,000 a year, to find ways of becoming viable for the future.

Today it was confirmed by the owners, Oxfordshire County Council, that season prices for 2008 were being cut considerably.

The following have been agreed by the council, with last year's season ticket prices in brackets: adult £18 (£27.50), child £7.50 (£15), family £45 (£80), students and pensioners £15 (£18).

Single visit tickets, however, have been rounded up by much smaller percentages: adult £6 (£5.70), child £2.50 (£2.45), family £15 (£14.50), concessions £5 (£4.85).

The thinking behind it is to get customer loyalty and community involvement from local people in the museum's future.

Lorraine Horne, marketing and publicity manager, said: "We looked at various options and decided on a really good deal on season tickets.

"Hopefully, more people will buy them and get us off to a good start to the season, with money in the bank.

"For local people it is a really great offer. They will be able to make multiple visits throughout the season for a much lower cost."

Last year the museum had 25,000 visits through the gates, but only 150 season tickets were sold.

The season starts for the Easter bank holiday weekend on March 22.

A few months ago the museum's future was in doubt but, following a public outcry, the county council guaranteed funding for the next three years on a reducing scale.

A special project group has been set up headed by Jim Couchman, cabinet member for social and community services, to look into ways of bringing in outside finance and expertise.

Source: Witney Gazette