RESIDENTS can have their say on proposals to extend Lyme Regis Museum at a consultation later this month.

The museum want to hear what locals think about the plans to create the Mary Anning Wing - after securing funding from the National Lottery.

Lyme Regis Museum director David Tucker, said: "As many people know, the museum has been working on a plan to extend the museum for several years.

"We are making excellent progress and have over £1m pledged and have very significant support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. We now want to give the people of Lyme a chance to see our plans."

The consultation will take place at Woodmead Halls on Tuesday March 31, between 2pm and 5pm.

The Mary Anning Wing will be built in order to bring the museum building up to modern standards, with a new learning space for schools, universities and community groups - along with public toilets, a lift, a larger shop and a re-designed fossil gallery.

"I'll be there to meet local people, as will our architect Robert Battersby and other members of the museum trust" added Mr Tucker.

"Over the years, we've consulted many museum visitors. Not surprisingly, as interested as they are with the town's wonderful history, they also want us to have basic facilities.

"Our spiral staircase might be lovely, but it isn't easy for people with mobility challenges to climb and currently, we are sending even very young children across a busy road to use the public loos. As we get 25,000 visitors a year and are the most popular Dorset museum for schools, not having these things makes life very difficult."