A TOP Suffolk museum will have the chance to show off some of its unique treasures when a £60,000 extension is completed.Stowmarket's Museum of East Anglian Life is adding a new section to house its prized steam engines and work began today.

A TOP Suffolk museum will have the chance to show off some of its unique treasures when a £60,000 extension is completed.

Stowmarket's Museum of East Anglian Life is adding a new section to house its prized steam engines and work began today.

A corrugated iron structure, which is wooden framed, will be added to the grounds of the museum after being in storage for nearly ten years.

Manager Harry Barnett said: "It's not the most attractive building but it's just typical of the period. Agricultural engineers were the backbone of agriculture in East Anglia and we're just maintaining that culture."

It was previously owned by Frank Mortlock and Sons, of Lavenham, and was used as an agricultural engineers' workshop until the business ceased to exist in the 1960s.

The building remained unused on the same site until the early 1990s, when the new landowners decided to clear the land for a housing development.

It was then dismantled and given to the museum in 1994, who then set about getting a grant to put it up.

An initial attempt failed but the museum has now been successful in attracting a £20,000 grant from the Preservation of Industrial and Scientific Material Grant Fund.

A donation has also been received from Bone family, who has also given money towards previous ventures at the museum.

The structure will have the capacity to display six steam engines and is due to be completed by the end of the year.

At present many of the historic treasures have to be covered during the winter months but they will now be on display all year round.

The museum is looking for volunteers to put it up. If you would like to help, call Lisa Harris or Harry Barnett on 01449 612229.