AS the weather slowly improves and summer lurks just around the corner, the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton (MDL) re-opens its doors on April 4, with reduced admission charges for locals and tourists alike.

The MDL, celebrating its thirtieth year in July, is fully accredited and an independent charitable trust.

It has an emphasis on the social history of Dartmoor and Okehampton, from pre-history to the present.

Highlights include a pair of 14th-century engraved bells, which have links to Okehampton Castle, and the bull-nose Morris pick-up vehicle from 1922. The museum also has a gallery which can be hired out, and is intending to house an exhibition on letterboxing in the new season.

The March 2011 edition of the Museums Journal, the leading source for information on museums and galleries, chose the MDL as a specialist collection well worth visiting.

Museum curator Maurie Webber emphasized the museum's desire to attract local residents to the museum as well as tourists.

She said: 'Residents are missing out at looking at their history. They're missing out on the rich history of Okehampton, and the wider area.'

Maurie also stressed the need for volunteers at the museum. Positions needed to be filled include an outdoors maintenance person and a co-ordinator for the museum's Friends Society.

The new admission charges are as follows: £2.50 for adults, £1 for students and £6 for a family of four.

Alternatively, a season ticket, which allows admission throughout the entire season, is £5.

The museum opens 10.15am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, 10.15am to 1pm Saturdays.

For further information, call the museum on 01837 52295.