Major refurbishment work begins next month at Wycombe Museum, with a raft of improvements planned for the historic building.

Staff and volunteers are preparing to shut the doors on Monday, June 8 for the summer months as internal works get underway to upgrade facilities at the centre - parts of which date back to the 16th century.

The grade-II listed building will receive a facelift to include a new café, an expanded shop, more toilets and an internal lift to the first floor galleries.

New gallery displays will show off the Museum’s chair collection at its best and retell the story of the district’s rich history.

And exhibits such as the iconic Red Lion statue - which stood beside Winston Churchill during his famous town centre speech - are being packed away into storage for the duration of the work.

Wycombe Museum welcomes thousands of visitors every year and the works at the Priory Avenue site are being carried out to cope with its growing popularity.

The refurbishment of Wycombe Museum is part of Wycombe District Council’s planned £500million redevelopment programme in the district.

When it reopens, the museum will be under new management by Wycombe Heritage and Arts Trust.

Its grounds will be still be open for a number of events in June, but will close fully from Monday, June 22.

For more information on events go to www.wycombe.gov.uk/museum or for information about the new management visit www.wycombeheritageandartstrust.org.uk