Ed FossAn award winning Norfolk museum which has helped tell the story of the nation's air defence for more than 15 years has been forced to close suddenly after failing a fire safety inspection.Ed Foss
An award winning Norfolk museum which has helped tell the story of the nation's air defence for more than 15 years has been forced to close suddenly after failing a fire safety inspection.
The RAF Air Defence Radar Museum received a letter on Thursday breaking the news, which museum manager Doug Robb described as 'absolutely disastrous'.
The museum, which is housed on part of the former RAF Neatishead site near Horning, traces the history and development of air defence radar since its invention in 1935.
It has won several awards over the years, including the best small visitor attraction in England in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence.
'We had a fire inspection on Monday and the letter arrived on Thursday saying the situation was no longer acceptable,' said Mr Robb.
'We had no choice but to close.
'I am not sure what will happen now, the figure that needs to be spent on new fire exits and so on is probably around �40,000 to �50,000.'
The building is owned by MoD Defence Estates and it their responsibility to ensure fire safety compliance, but it is understood they are reluctant to pay for any upgrades.
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