VOLUNTEERS are getting ready for a big clean-up of Witney's Cogges Museum, which only months ago faced closure.

The show of community support for the historic site came at a public meeting called by the Cogges Trust.

The call for more volunteers, partly to cut staffing costs which are the major expense in the museum's £250,000 a year running loss, met with an enthusiastic response.

Some have already agreed to come to a pre-season clean-up, both indoors and outdoors on the farm, on Saturday, 10am to 4pm.

Many more at the packed meeting at Cogges St Mary's Church took away questionnaires asking them how and when they could give voluntary help, either in the office and visitor centre or working out on the garden and farm.

About 170 people came to the meeting to hear of this year's programme at the museum, which opens to the public at Easter, and the aims and objectives of the owners, Oxfordshire County Council, to make the site viable for the future.

Martyn Brown, county heritage and arts officer, said: "It was a fantastic turn-out.

"We're absolutely delighted with the huge interest in Cogges.

"We're very optimistic there will be many volunteers to help keep the museum going.

"The first big call on them is the clean-up and the message is, if you haven't told us, don't worry, just turn up on the day. There's plenty to do."

John Jackson, council director for social and community services, said a project board has been set up to overview initiatives for the museum and would be making monthly progress reports.

Source: Witney Gazette