Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon gets lottery cash

It is hoped the project will be under way in 2013

A Warwickshire car museum says a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant will help its plans for a £2.5m expansion.

The Heritage Motor Centre, at Gaydon, wants to be able to display the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust's entire collection of historic cars.

Currently it displays about half of its collection of nearly 300 cars but the rest is in storage.

Development funding of £51,100 has been awarded to help the trust with plans to apply for a full grant in 2012.

It is hoped work on the Multi-Story: Museum's Collections Centre project will begin in 2013.

The trust has a collection of British cars telling the story of the motor industry from the 1890s to the present.

Collection 'more accessible'

The project would include a vehicle restoration and conservation workshop.

The trust will also launch a new volunteer programme to allow people to get more involved in its work.

Tim Bryan, head of collections and interpretation at the centre, said he was delighted that the HLF was supporting its scheme.

"It will help make our collection far more accessible than before and enable people to learn more about the motor industry which has played such an important role in the West Midlands," he said

The head of the HLF for the West Midlands, Anne Jenkins, said it was extremely pleased to give initial support to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust for its project to "develop a new and improved display venue for the wonderful collection of historic cars".

"We look forward to receiving their application for a full grant in the future," she added.