Derby's Silk Mill museum has closed its doors to the public as part of the local authority's bid to save £200,000 a year - cash that is to be re-invested in city heritage sites.

The two-year closure is designed to allow Derby City Council (DCC) to invest in museums, as well as to develop a plan to re-establish Silk Mill as a major attraction. Derby Museums is already hoping to reopen the Silk Mill's ground floor area as soon as it is possible, with a café and shop proposed to make the venue more sustainable.

According to DCC, the redeveloped Silk Mill will eventually establish a connection between Derby's status as housing the world's first factory and its legacy of industrial achievement. DCC head of museums Stuart Gillis said: "We appreciate that a number of people are sceptical about the mothballing but we want to assure the public that we will do everything we can, and engage local people in re-opening the Silk Mill as quickly as possible."