THE Pilkington Glass Museum is to close its doors to the public for the last time on Friday, February 26, after more than 30 years.

And the decision to close the museum, which was first established at the old Pilkington's head office site on Prescot Road in 1964, has been described as "another major loss" to the town by a disappointed Star reader who prefers to remain anonymous.

The woman, who contacted us when she heard of the closure, said: "The museum is a wonderful place of interest, especially for schools and visitors from out of town. I would say it is the best-kept museum in the North West and, as far as I am aware, it is the only one left in the town now that the St Helens Museum and Art Gallery has closed.

"If anyone has the time to visit and see for themselves the layout and cleanliness, they should do so now and ask themselves why it should close."

A spokesman for Pilkington told the Star: "The entire collection of exhibits at the glass museum are to be transferred to the new World of Glass building and we have estimated that the whole process of conserving, packing and transferring will take 12 months to complete which is why the museum is closing now.

"However, Pilkington believes the World of Glass provides an excellent opportunity to re-house the collection in a purpose-built centre containing many more facilties."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.