East of England museums get more than £2m

Baroness Twycross said the money would help preserve jobs and opening hours

Museums across the East of England are celebrating after more than £2m in extra government funding was announced.

On a visit to Luton on Tuesday, the Museums Minister Baroness Twycross said £20m of grants would be given to heritage attractions across the England.

The minister added that the money would help museums - including some in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Peterborough and Suffolk - stay open for future generations.

The Luton Culture Trust said the funding was "much needed".

Baroness Twycross said: "We're keen to make sure that we provide additional funding to local and civic museums that tell people the story of the places they come from.

"It's about protecting jobs, protecting open hours, but also enabling museums to become more sustainable for the future, looking at ways they can increase their income streams."

Billy Hussain from the Culture Trust in Luton said museums were struggling across the country

One of the places the minister visited on Tuesday was the Hat Works, an arts centre and exhibition space in Luton.

The town's Culture Trust, which runs the Hat Works and other venues in the area, is getting £530,528 from the fund.

Billy Hussain, one of the trustees, said the grant was "exciting".

He added: "The arts, culture and heritage sites, and museums, are struggling across the country.

"We need to be resilient during these times, and we need support."

Abu-Yahya is one of the artists whose work is on display at the Hat Factory

The full list of museums in the East of England is:

• Luton Cultural Services Trust - £530,528

• Norfolk Museums Service - £360,000

• Chelmsford City Council - £236,297

• Ware Museum CIO - £58,337

• Southend Museum Service - £39,794

• The Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon - £240,300

• Peterborough City Council - £168,000

• Colchester City Council - £126,200

• The Food Museum, Stowmarket, Suffolk - £351,112

• St Albans Museum - £85,000

• Discover Bucks Museum - £314,000