THE Tom Leonard Mining Museum, in Skinningrove, east Cleveland, is preparing to end its season with a bang.

The museum closes for the winter next Saturday. The final week coincides with the half-term holidays and staff are hoping this means they will finish the season on a high.

The attraction offers visitors an underground view of the ironstone mining industry, which grew up in east Cleveland from the mid-1800s and disappeared about 50 years ago.

Manager Alan Chilton said: "We are looking forward to welcoming the last of this season's visitors, before we move on to the winter programme of caring for the collection.

"The museum has had an excellent season this year, despite the closure of Loftus Bank over the summer holiday period. However, now that all the roads are back to normal again it is rather easier to get to us."

All next week, the museum is open daily, from 1pm, with the last tour starting at 3.45pm. For further details ,call (01287) 642877. The museum will reopen in April