The leaky Sunderland Museum is currently undergoing major repairs

A museum’s leaky roof is set to be repaired as part of major renovations to extend the venue’s lifespan.

Staff at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens said they routinely had to place buckets under leaks in exhibition areas.

The main building, which is listed, first opened in 1879, but extensions were built in the 1960s and early 2000s.

Sunderland City Council has raised funds and received grants to carry out extensive repairs to the interior, exterior and roof of the original building.

Some £349,000 has been raised through grants from Arts Council England and the council is spending £116,000 on the work.

Judith Miller, the council’s chief conservation officer, said it was important the remediation work was carried out as quickly as possible.

“It’s important that we take care of these landmarks,” she said.

“Unfortunately, the climate in the North East is quite humid, so if there are problems with the holes in the roof there will be a lot of leaks.”

She said the problems also existed where the original building connected to the newer additions.

The building features exhibits on Wearside’s role in mining and shipbuilding and features paintings by renowned artist LS Lowry.

However, in recent months some exhibits have had to be moved into the display cases due to water ingress.

Others were cordoned off, while access to some back office areas was blocked because of the damage, employees said.

The city council’s cabinet member for communities, tourism and culture, councilor Beth Jones, said the venue was an “absolutely important” part of the city.

She said: “In the last 12 months we have welcomed over 280,000 visitors to the museum.”

She said the council remained committed to improving the building, which will remain open when the work on the new exhibition space in the cultural center is completed Next year.

“Both [will] “We complement each other perfectly and we will work on a program that takes this culture into account,” she added.

The work is expected to be completed by February next year.

Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Next door And Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].