LANCASHIRE Record Office will reopen at 9am today following a £1.1m refit.

The office in Bow Lane, Preston, has been closed to the public since July 4 while the air-conditioning plant was being replaced.

The Record Office collects and preserves over eight miles of Lancashire's archival heritage.

This includes parish registers, wills, letters and diaries, historic maps and parchment deeds.

The archives are available for people to use free of charge.

Jacquie Crosby, Lancashire County Council's archives services manager, said: "Maintaining the right temperature and humidity levels is vital for preserving Lancashire's unique and irreplaceable archives, which date back nearly 900 years.

"We're also going greener. As well as ensuring the long-term survival of our collections, the new air-conditioning and energy-efficient lighting will reduce the carbon footprint of the building and help to save money into the bargain."

The Record Office will be open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9am-5pm, Tuesdays 9am-8.30pm and Thursdays 10am-5pm.

The office will also open every second Saturday of the month, 10am-4pm, beginning November 12.

To obtain a reader's ticket, users should bring proof of their ID showing their name, address and signature.

For more information please visit www.archives.lancashire.gov.uk or phone 01772 533039.