Museum's £1.2m exhibition boost

The Black Country Living Museum recently marked its 30th anniversary

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the West Midlands has received a £1.2m grant to help it create more exhibitions.

The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley said the European Regional Development Fund cash would go towards expanding its famous chip shop.

It also wants to revamp the main "high street" at the museum.

The plans would also include a new display area made up of historic cars and motorbikes.

A new exhibition in Hall 2 of the museum will also be built to tell the story of the Black Country, its residents and its industries.

The work will be carried out over the next five months.

The museum, which opened on 27 May 1978, recently celebrated its 30th birthday.

Historic buildings which once made up Britain's industrial heartland were moved on to the large site and authentically rebuilt.

A total of about 260,000 visitors go to the attraction each year.