BURNLEY’s Towneley Hall is set to become a natural history hotspot in the New Year with the creation of a new gallery.

The Grade 1 listed hall is spending its share of £300,000 Arts Council funding awarded to the Pennine Lancashire Museum Consortium last year.

Seven East Lancashire museums shared the cash, which is to be used to improve the experience for local families and tourists at the venue.

The money will also be used at Towneley Hall to create new family- friendly displays and activity areas, a new exhibition gallery and new interpretation panels and displays.

The natural history gallery will include more items like Towneley’s famous bear, ‘Bill’ the black Himalayan mountain bear, which looks down on visitors from the top of the stairs.

The refurbishment will mean that Towneley Hall will be closed to visitors throughout January.

Coun John Harbour, Burnley Council’s executive member for leisure and culture, said visitors would “love” the changes which will be made to the museum.

“The new year is going to see some great changes made to Towneley Hall,” he said.

“Despite opening later in the year than usual, we’re sure that visitors new and old will love what we’re doing to improve the visitor experience.”

The hall will close at 5pm on Monday, December 23 and will not reopen until Saturday, February 1.

During the closure staff will be making changes to the inside of the hall in time for the reopening.