Vintage fairground museum to close in Devon

The collection will be moved to museums in Staffordshire and Hampshire

A museum in Devon housing the national fairground collection is set to close.

The Fairground Heritage Trust confirmed it had made the "very difficult decision" to close Dingles Fairground Museum in October half-term.

The site in Lifton has a collection of vintage art, stalls, organs, a penny arcade and operational fairground rides.

The trust said the pandemic, a limited season and working in a remote location were key reasons for its closure.

With its lease due to expire and inevitable rent cost increases, it said it could "see no viable path to continue to operate in Devon".

The Trust said that with its lease due to expire and inevitable rent cost increases, it could "see no viable path to continue to operate in Devon"

The trust said it was "very sad" to be leaving Devon and its "wonderful staff and volunteers".

It said: "The financial realities of continuing to operate a museum in a large rented space in a remote location have finally forced our hand.

"There are insufficient words that can be said to thank all of those who have contributed to making Dingles what it is today and whom will continue with us to the end of the season in October."

The bulk of the collection will be moved to a museum to Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum in Tamworth, Staffordshire, and the remaining to Hollycombe Working Steam Museum in Hampshire for storage in the short term.

The trust said it had "aspirations" to open an exhibition on a limited scale in the future.