LANCASHIRE’S Titanic museum is preparing for an official launch in its new home.

The museum has left Colne to set up in Samlesbury Hall and is now operating under a new name.

Bosses at what was known as the Titanic in Lancashire Museum moved out of their Albert Street base, in Colne, at the end of June, and have been open in the historic Samlesbury Hall for a month.

Nigel Hampson, curator of what is now called the Lancashire Titanic Museum, said: “We have been open around four weeks and had a soft launch as we made sure everything was running smoothly.

“The four weeks have gone well and are we are now ready for an official launch in the next week or so.

“The most important thing for us what the extra space. We had around 1,000ft2 in Colne and now have around 4,000ft2 in Samlesbury.

“That means we can now accommodate coach parties and school parties which we couldn’t do before, which is very important to us.

“We also have more space to display the artefacts and it doesn’t look as cluttered as it did.”

The museum is fundraising to buy a Wallace Hartley artefact, which Mr Hampson described as ‘pretty unique’.

He said: “I can’t say what it is but it is one of only three such items in the world.

“We want to bring it to the museum to make sure it stays in Lancashire, near Wallace’s home, and doesn’t end up with a private collector.”

Derek Mann, chairman of the Waterside Neighbourhood Action Group, which petitioned to keep the museum in Colne, said: “Once the museum decided it wanted to go, that was it.

“I don’t think there is any chance of us getting it back. One site we thought would be workable was the old schoolhouse in Exchange Street .

“It’s a shame it’s not in Colne any longer as we’ve got the big connection – Samlesbury has no connection that I know of.”