PLANS at a Middle Wallop museum are taking off as it has been granted more than £1.5 million for a redevelopment project.

The Museum of Army Flying got the go-ahead from National Lottery for its Project Eagle, and a further £900,000 raised by the museum itself has brought the total fund to nearly £3 million.

The project looks to expand and modernise the museum’s archive, which currently holds 500,000 documents and 30,000 photographs, and will update and reinterpret its collection.

Michelle Roffe, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) South East, said: “This is a really exciting time for the Museum of Army Flying.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, the museum will now be able to reconnect with and boost visitor numbers, revitalise its displays and offer a whole host of opportunities for people to get involved with this important part of our regimental history.”

Work is expected to start over the winter 2018-19, and re-open in April 2019.

The museum focuses on telling the international story of British Army flying, from the eve of D-Day to operations including the Falklands and Afghanistan.

The upcoming project aims to get visitors involved with re-engaging with these stories and will also feature a three-year community, educational and volunteer programme to include a schools programme, oral history project, pop-up museum, internship programme and children’s club on site.

Museum of Army Flying chief executive Chris Munns said: “This is a most important milestone and a testament to all those that have helped with the planning of the project and the excellent support that we have received from the National Lottery and HLF.”