The Black Country Living Museum is to close for 10 days while maintenance work is carried out on attractions at the well-known site in Dudley.

The museum, in Tipton Road, will be closed from January 3 to 13 after bosses decided to carry out the work during a single period early in the New Year.

Usually the attraction closes two days a week every week through January and February for the work to take place.

But bosses decided it would be easier to close once over a longer period instead for the maintenance in 2012.

Workers at the museum, which is visited by thousands of people every year, said a number of projects would be taking place at the site over the 10 days.

Maintenance will be carried out at the underground coal mine, along with work on the museum’s traditional fair which is located near to the attraction’s showpiece village.

Work is carried out at the fair at this time every year to check all the rides and make any necessary repairs and improvements.

Buildings at the site will also be thoroughly cleaned as part of the work and staff training will also take place.

Spokesman for the museum Angela Clay said: “The work taking place will be standard maintenance such as painting and deep cleaning.”