A POPULAR museum in Test Valley is now closed to the public as it undergoes a £2.5 million revamp.

Work to expand and modernise the Museum of Army Flying in Middle Wallop is under way.

As previously reported, the museum’s application for £1.59 million National Lottery funding was given the green light earlier this year and a further £900,000 was raised by the museum itself to fund Project Eagle.

The scheme 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.

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

Chris Munns, chief executive officer, 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 the Heritage Lottery Fund.”

Works are due to be completed by April 2019.

The Apache Café at the site will also close for a refurbishment on December 22.