The British government is to spend nearly two-million dollars on creating a state-of-the-art storage site for national treasures.

The National Museum of Science and Industry will use the funds to buy a former military site in Wiltshire, in southern England, where three aircraft hangars would be adapted to provide a controlled environment facility.

An official said storage was an increasing concern for museums and had become very expensive in London: the new site would be used for excess artefacts from museums all over the country.

Previous suggestions have included using the site to store the remains of cows slaughtered because of the BSE crisis, and correspondents say the announcement of a museum facility will cheer local residents.