A GROUP which cares for some of the regions leading museums is consulting on redundancies after the coronavirus crisis led to huge losses of over £1.5m.

York Museum Trust which runs the city's art gallery, the Castle Museum and the Yorkshire Museum said its survival depends on reducing costs including losing staff. More than 70 per cent of the Trust's money comes from the sale of tickets and other revenue from visitors, and even though they are gradually reopening missing a large part of the season has left a large hole in budgets.

Donations and government support has helped but managers say they now have no choice.

Chief Executive Reyahn King said they were awaiting details of the government's £1.75bn relief for cultural institutions. But he added: "York Museums Trust looks after much of York’s important and cherished art, culture and heritage and as custodians it is our duty to ensure that we can continue to do this. We are doing all we can to source alternative funding. but we are now in a position where we have to make some very difficult decisions."

For information www.yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk.