Lincoln Castle £19m improvement plans on show

The castle dates back more than 900 years

Final plans for a £19m refurbishment at Lincoln Castle are to go on show.

Planned work includes a new vault to showcase the Magna Carta, repairs to the castle wall and the restoration of two prison buildings.

The refurbishment has been part-funded by a £12m grant from the Lottery, with the county council providing £5.2m towards the project.

A presentation event showcasing the improvements is being held at The Lawn in Lincoln later.

The county council has made a £1.1m bid for European funding. The rest of the money needed will rely on fundraising efforts.

800th anniversary

Lincoln Castle was built in 1068 and has housed the Magna Carta since 1215.

The new vault will showcase the famous document, one of only a handful of surviving originals.

Councillor Eddy Poll, executive member for cultural services, said: "This is an opportunity to find out about what will be happening up at the castle over the next couple of years - improvements that will make it one of the UK's top historic attractions.

"Not only will this ensure that this local landmark is kept in good condition for future generations, it'll also attract thousands more visitors, providing a sizeable boost for the local tourism economy."

The plans can be viewed between 13:30 and 16:40 BST.

It is hoped the work will be completed in time for the Magna Carta's 800th anniversary in 2015.