A MELROSE museum has been awarded almost £600,000 towards expansion plans.

Fundraising to provide new educational and visitor facilities at Trimontium Museum started more than two years ago.

The £2 million plans will see the museum, which is housed within the town centre Ormiston Institute, more than double in size.

And this week the project has been boosted with a £571,400 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A spokesman for the Heritage Fund told us: "The only museum dedicated to celebrating the Romans in Scotland, The Trimontium Museum in Melrose, is to be completely updated thanks to funding raised by National Lottery players.

"The volunteer-run museum, displaying treasures excavated from one of the most important Roman sites in the country, will be extended to include new visitor and education facilities.

"There will also be more walks, talks and events for families and schools, such as the popular gladiator skills and community archaeology, run by additional volunteers."

This week's funding for the Trimontium Museum is part of a £3.5 million investment in heritage projects across the country.

Riona McMorrow, acting head of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Making more decisions on funding in Scotland means we can focus on the heritage that really matters to people, creating jobs, bringing economic prosperity and improving people’s lives right across the country.

“The awards we’ve made today not only demonstrate how incredibly diverse our heritage is, they celebrate the thousands of volunteers who commit their time to making sure our country’s past is kept safe for future generations.”

Work is scheduled to begin later this year.