Expansion plan for Laurel museum

Stan Laurel was born in a terraced house in the town's Argyle Street

A museum in Cumbria, which commemorates one of the world's most famous comedy double acts, is to be expanded.

The Laurel and Hardy Museum, in Stan Laurel's home town of Ulverston, has been granted planning permission to move to larger premises.

The decision by South Lakeland Council was welcomed by museum manager Marion Grave as "an exciting opportunity".

Items of Memorabilia will now be moved to a disused warehouse at Heron Glass, near to Booths supermarket.

Mrs Grave said: "We want to create a environment which is easy for the public to enjoy"

Until the decision to relocate was granted the museum had limited space and struggled to cope with visitor numbers.

She added: "We will now be able to accomodate coach loads as well as individual visitors"

Stan Laurel was born in a three-bedroom terrace in the town's Argyle Street and first arrived in America in 1910, where he achieved worldwide movie success with Oliver Hardy.