WILTON Town Museum will close at the end of the month because of a sharp decline in the number of visitors.

The exhibitions, which reflect the town's long and varied history, will be dismantled and put into storage - after bosses at Wilton Carpet Factory, where the museum is housed, decided it was no longer economically viable.

Run by Wilton Historical Society, the museum opened in 1977 and includes a collection of pictures, documents, photographs and artefacts belonging to past generations of Wilton families.

In its heyday, the museum was visited by several thousand tourists a year who went on the carpet factory tour, but over the last few years, the number of visitors has dwindled.

"We are very disappointed but it was inevitable," said secretary of the historical society Chris Rousell.

"It means we'll have to start again from scratch.

"We felt it was important that somewhere with as long and important a history as Wilton should have its own museum.

"I don't know if there is anywhere else available, so all the exhibits will have to go into store, and we don't know when people will see them again."

The museum has moved several times within the carpet factory but is currently housed on the second floor of a building in the old courtyard.

Managing director of the carpet factory Peter Le Count said the ancient lift that serves the museum had become one of its many problems.

"With the Disability Discrimination Act, we have to ensure people can reach the museum, but the lift would need to be replaced," he said.

"It just doesn't make good business sense when so few people would use it.

"Many tourist attractions have seen their visitor numbers fall, and this is no exception.

"We have been happy to accommodate the exhibition for seven or eight years and we have paid for all the heating and running costs, but sadly we cannot continue in the same way."

Tours of the carpet factory are still available, but the static displays that tell the history of carpet weaving will also go.

Visitors will be able to read the information in the shopping village on smaller presentation boards, which are also available for displays by the historical society.

After hearing the news at their meeting last Tuesday, Wilton's councillors said they would try to find a way to save the museum.

"Wilton has a proud history, which should be on display," said mayor Keith Male.

"I feel this will be a sad loss and we must try to see if we can help."