Cheltenham's Museum and Art Gallery renamed The Wilson

The Wilson name was inspired by Cheltenham-born Antarctic explorer Dr Edward Wilson

Cheltenham's Museum and Art Gallery is to be rebranded as The Wilson.

The building in Clarence Street is due to re-open on 5 October following a £6.3m refurbishment over the past 18 months.

The new name is inspired by explorer Dr Edward Wilson, who was born in the town and who died on Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition in 1912.

Borough councillors voted unanimously for the name at a meeting on Tuesday evening.

Other names considered were C-MAG, an acronym of Cheltenham Museum and Art Gallery, and Fifty One, a reference to the building's postal address.

Steve Jordan, leader of Cheltenham Borough Council, said: "Edward Wilson was a local lad from Cheltenham. He was both an artist and an explorer on the Scott expedition.

"Quite a lot of his art has been donated to the museum and gallery. He did lots of watercolours while he was on the trip."

As part of the refurbishment, a new extension has been built to increase exhibition and display space, with improvements also carried out on existing galleries and public spaces.

Cheltenham's Tourist Information Centre is also moving to the building.