THE futures of two East Lancashire museums remain uncertain as the deadline approaches for expressions of interest to be submitted in a bid to keep them open.

A petition to save Helmshore Mill Museum and Queen Street Mill in Briercliffe has reached more than 10,000 signatures, but both are at risk of shutting their doors for good on September 30 as Lancashire County Council seeks to save money.

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Groups have until August 2 to submit their expressions of interest to take over the sites.

Cllr Marcus Johnstone, cabinet member for environment, planning and cultural services, said a cabinet working group had been set up to look into five museums across the county at risk of closure.

“We are looking for expressions of interest and hope someone else will be able to run it,” he said. He said there was a lot of work going on “behind the scenes”.

Beryl Rostron, acting chairman of Friends of Helmshore Textile Museum, said it was a case of waiting to see what happens.

The friends have said they would like to work with whoever takes over the museum and expect a decision to be made by the middle of September. Mrs Rostron said: “We do feel quite hopeful. We had a positive meeting with the working group. They were keen to keep all of the museums open.

“If they were to mothball it, it would be awful in a way, but if someone is going to take it over it would be far better to do that than close it.

“The number of people coming to the museum at the moment has increased.”

“A lot are frightened they might miss it. Some people have been coming from America. It would be a huge loss if it was to close.”

She said the museum is no longer open on Sundays due to a shortage of staff who are concerned about the potential closure.

Cllr David Stansfield, ward councillor, said: “It’s our heritage and it brings an enormous amount of revenue to the valley because people come from far and wide to see itI don’t agree with it shutting.”