LYME Regis Museum has received almost £800,000 of Lottery funding to go towards the Mary Anning Wing project.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the museum £798,000 towards the project which will provide a new fossil gallery and learning space, as well as a larger shop and the lift and visitor toilets that the museum currently lacks.

David Tucker, director of Lyme Regis Museum said: “We’re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support.

“Our museum is bursting at the seams and we’ll be able to do so much more for so many more people, both local and tourists.

“We want to play a major role in supporting Lyme’s schools and community groups and the Mary Anning Wing will allow us to do just that. People, irrespective of disability will be able to access our first floor and we’ll no longer have to send visitors across a busy road to the nearest public toilet”.

The Mary Anning Wing, a modern extension to the museum’s building, will enable the museum to extend its free education service for local schools, work more closely with local community groups and make Lyme’s fascinating history more accessible.

It will also help the museum to host more events, as well as working with larger museums and universities to encourage the study of Lyme’s unique geology.

Nerys Watts, head of Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said “As the home of geological and charitable ‘firsts’, the inspiration of literary greats and the place to go for generations of people fascinated by fossils, Lyme Regis has an extraordinarily rich heritage.

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this project will transform the gateway to this heritage with massive benefits for the collections themselves and the visitors and volunteers of this much loved museum. We’re delighted to play a funding role.”

It was revealed earlier this week that funding to voluntary and community organisations in west Dorset, including Lyme Regis Museum could be cut in a bid to save the district council £80,000.

Trustees at Lyme Regis Museum have submitted plans to West Dorset District Council.

Members of Lyme Regis Town Council's planning and highways committee refused to back the proposals for the Mary Anning Wing last month - but gave their backing for listed building consent.

Councillors cited the appearance of the seaward facing extension, made from glass, zinc and aluminium as being out of keeping with the town.