Fire-hit museum to remain shut for months

Firefighters were called to the museum early on Sunday

A museum in a medieval house is expected to remain closed for several months following a fire.

The blaze broke out in the cellar and spread to the ground floor of King John's House in Romsey, Hampshire, in the early hours of Sunday.

The museum's interim chair of trustees, John Parker, said the fire had burnt through the floor above the cellar.

He said due to smoke damage "it will need a lot of cleaning, but we are quite confident that it can be repaired".

The building off Church Street has been fenced off until the fire inspector and structural engineers are able to assess the building's safety.

Mr Parker said with the museum and its tea rooms closed for "some months... we will have to start fundraising so we can tick over until we are back in full operation again".

No-one was injured and the building was empty when the fire broke out.

The cause is not yet known with an investigation set to be carried out.