A MUSEUM in the North-East has been awarded the largest grant of its kind to fund repair work.

English Heritage has awarded The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, £800,000 towards the restoration of its dilapidated roof.

The grant is the largest handed out to a single building in the North-East and - once repairs are completed - it will allow the historic landmark to be removed from English Heritage's Buildings at Risk register.

The cost of the work is estimated to be £1.6m, but Northern Rock has already provided £500,000 and Durham County Council has given £50,000.

The roof appeal is part of a wider £6m appeal to bring the museum into the 21st Century and provide more galleries and exhibitions.

Tenders have gone out to specialist builders for the repairs and work could begin as soon as next month or July.

It is expected to take a year to complete and the museum will remain open throughout the repairs.

Director of the Bowes Museum, Adrian Jenkins said: "We have made significant improvements to the quality of the museum experience for visitors over the past few years, but have all the while been conscious of the need to quickly remove the worries associated with the leaking roof.

"The work will finally lay that concern to rest, and at the same time will be a catalyst for allowing improved access to some of the treasures stored in the upper- floor rooms."

English Heritage regional director for the North-East, Carol Pyrah, said: "This is the largest grant English Heritage has ever offered in the North-East and it is fitting that this magnificent Grade I-listed building is to benefit.

"A particular priority to us is to work with our partners to ensure important historic buildings, such as the Bowes Museum, are successfully removed from our register of buildings at risk."

The 130-year-old lead and slate roof of the museum had deteriorated to the point where water was entering the building, forcing museum staff to take action to avoid the structure and contents being damaged.