New £10.5m Shrewsbury museum to open after delays
A new £10.5m museum and art gallery in Shropshire will open its doors on 1 April.
Work began on the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery five years ago, and it had been due to open last year.
The museum occupies the former site of Shrewsbury's old Music Hall and the 13th Century Vaughan's Mansion.
The extent of the work required to restore the mansion was to blame for "significant delays" to the project, a Shropshire Council spokeswoman said.
An exhibition of contemporary art, including pieces by Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst, will be on display for the opening.
Other exhibits include Roman artefacts, including some found locally, and work inspired by Charles Darwin, who was born in the town.
Councillor Steve Charmley, cabinet member for visitor economy, said the work had been "painstaking and often hard".
"A large number of highly skilled people have worked incredibly hard over a long period to make the new museum and art gallery a reality.
"The results are stunning and I really do hope people will be impressed with what they see and what we have done," he said.