DORSET County Museum staff are celebrating a £10.3million grant that will enable an ambitious redevelopment project.

The award of the Heritage Lottery Fun grant has paved away for a £13million building project on the that will completely transform the museum and the way its artefacts are displayed.

Chairman of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Dr Peter Down said the museum had been 'struggling' for some years and was facing insolvency before it was decided something needed to be done to secure it for future generations.

Work began around three years ago on drawing up plans that would also allow greater public access to its nearly four million artefacts and see them stored in more suitable conditions.

Dr Down said the award from the Heritage Lottery Fund demonstrated its belief in the aims of the project.

He said: "It's wonderfully generous of them and demonstrates the belief that we can transform our business and provide the heritage, the learning and the community services that this museum is all about."

The initial award of £483,900 will enable the museum to embark on a details two-year development stage and if it is given the green light for the rest of the funding in May 2017 it will then move onto the build phase, with director Dr Jon Murden anticipating the new facility being opened around Easter 2020.

The scheme is expected to cost around £13million and the museum will now set to work on raising the remaining funds, with the local community urged to support the project.

Dr Murden paid tribute to the museum's staff and its army of nearly 200 volunteers, without which it wouldn't exist.

He said: "What I always felt we needed to turn round what was a museum that was struggling was a clear vision and a positive ambition for the future and I believe we had the potential to discover that."

Dr Murden said one of the strengths of the bid was the plans to involve the community and an attempt to 'break down the barriers' that traditionally existed between the behind the scenes parts of the museum and its public face.

He added that it was hoped visitor numbers would double to around 90,000 a year by the time the new facility opened.

The grant was also welcomed by collections manager Dr Jenny Cripps, who said it was exciting that the museum's 'wonderful collections' would now be properly looked after and put on show for the local community.

Site manager for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site Sam Rose said the museum was a 'natural extension' of the World Heritage Coastline and it would be great to have more space to show some of the incredible specimens found along the coastline.

The project is being supported by Dorset County Council and museums officer Vicky de Wit said all other museums in the county would benefit.

Among those to congratulate the museum on its successful grant application was Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, who is patron of its development appeal.

He said: "This project will enable the museum to bring world class exhibitions to the local area and develop its role as a cultural and community hub for a range of events and activities."

Cllr Peter Wharf, Dorset County Council's representative from the museum's board, added: "This is really excellent news for Dorset.

"The museum is a real asset for residents and visitors alike and the county council has worked closely with them to help bring in this significant injection of funds, which will benefit so many people."

Mayor of Dorchester Cllr Robin Potter said that the grant was good news not just for the museum but also the wider county town.

He said: "The project will not only allow the museum to provide a fitting home for the storage, interpretation and research into Dorset's fascinating history; it will also become the essential cornerstone that the town's tourism sector has been looking for to stimulate significantly increased interest in visiting Dorchester to explore the town town's rich cultural heritage, creating more jobs and a more diverse local economy."