FEARS that Forge Mill Museum may close have galvanised support for a major expansion and overhaul from town industrialists.

Redditch Manufacturers' Association (RMA) chairman Rod Laight and his members are willing to offer practical and moral support in expanding the facilities and exhibitions at the council-run museum.

The RMA wants to see a wider representation of Redditch's rich industrial heritage, which in its heyday included internationally known brands like Herbert Terry's Springs and Royal Enfield Motorcycles.

Mr Laight said funding may also be found over and above a £500,000 capital investment planned by the council in the next year or so.

The approach has been welcomed by Council Leader David Cartwright and Councillor Diane Thomas, who is leading a working party looking at the facility.

The move follows talk earlier this year that Forge Mill could close if it did not modernise and expand.

Mr Laight said: "There's a strong opinion among industrialists here that we should record as much of the town's industrial history before it's too late.

"We need to see a much higher profile for the museum because it seems to be in a backwater really.''

He added: "Forge Mill is the only working needle mill in the world and that needs to be recognised.

"But there's almost nothing on record about the history of the town's spring industry, yet Herbert Terry was the biggest spring manufacturer in the world.

"We want to see the museum grow and I'm sure there will be a lot of industrialists who will freely give interesting artefacts for exhibits.

"Potentially, people from across the world would come to see it. The return would be tremendous."

As a first step, RMA is joining forces with the West Midlands Regional Technology Centre (Wemtech) to interview senior industrialists, past and present, and produce an archive which could be used by historians.

Other proud Redditch brand names include Howard S Cooke, Quality Springs, Alcad Batteries, BSA and HDA.