A ROMAN museum hopes to get the public rallying behind it before it has to leave its historic building.

Malton Museum has decided to allow visitors in for free from this Friday (July 1) until it has to leave Malton Old Town Hall in April 2012.

Ryedale District Council has decided not to renew the lease on the Market Place building when it expires in April, as the building’s owners will begin charging a commercial rent.

The museum had planned to move to new premises in the town, but hit a number of obstacles when trying to obtain funding.

The museum’s custodians will continue to work in the community following the closure next year and hope to one day open again elsewhere.

Margaret Shaw, chairman of the museum's Vision Board, said: "It was a big decision to allow visitors to come for free because, obviously, we need all the financial help we can get.

"But it's such a great museum we wanted the public to come and see it before it closes and we will do all we can to do that."

Malton Museum focuses on some of the outstanding Roman finds in the area, including its highly regarded Four Seasons mosaic.

There are also interactive displays and a new family visitor pack with quizzes and games.

Economy and Community manager at Ryedale District Council, Jos Holmes, said: "We can’t renew the lease on the museum because it no longer comes under a voluntary sector rate, it would be a commercial rate and we can’t afford it.

"The collection will still be available, but it may be that the artefacts are put in an archive available to the public, or used in workshops at events around Ryedale."