BRAINTREE Museum received a boost in helping it become a must visit destination thanks to funding from councillors community grants.

The museum managed to secure £4,400 funding from Braintree Councillors to refurbish its gallery, allowing it to increase the temporary exhibition space and brighten to gallery with an improved colour scheme.

The grant funding was secured to make the gallery a more versatile space and in turn improve the exhibition programme that the museum can offer.

John Mckee, chairman of the board of trustees of Braintree Museum, said: "We are always trying to raise money and secure grant funding of all sorts to be able to do more for the community.

"We are trying to make it much more of a destination where people can come and enjoy the space.

"By getting the grant to improve the lighting and environment we are then able to go out and bid for further grant funding.

The plan is to secure further funding from the Museum Trust to further upgrade the gallery facilities, improving features like lights and security, allowing the museum to further extend its varied programme of exhibitions which has included the School of Witchcraft a Wizardry and an exhibition on the Great Bardfield artists in recent months.

Mr Mckee said: "The community grants are really amazing things that can benefit people across the district.

"We are hoping that this money can be used to make the museum a real destination within the area."

Each councillor has £1,500 per year to distribute to community causes.

For more information about the community grants, visit http://bit.ly/2vwPbwd.