The keys to Clitheroe Castle Museum have been handed over to Lancashire County Council a month ahead of its official reopening.

The museum has recently undergone a £3.5m, two-year refurbishment, which involved creating new interactive galleries, disabled facilities, a changing exhibition space, a new education/meeting suite and a glass entrance housing a souvenir retail space, reception and café/restaurant.

Lancashire County Council's museum service will run the facility, which depicts the history of Ribble Valley.

Peter Robinson, Clitheroe Castle Heritage Scheme champion and former high sheriff of Lancashire, said: "The restoration and building work was completed on time and to budget, and I'm delighted to see that the interior work is also progressing well.

"The Clitheroe Castle Heritage Scheme has been a huge project and I am particularly pleased with the atrium, a stunning building by anyone's standards, and the well, which is now an eye-catching feature of the new café."

The project was funded by Ribble Valley Borough Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the SITA Trust and the Regional Development Agency.

Harrogate-based ethical food company Gold & Brown will run the Clitheroe Castle café, branded a Caffetessen, which will create around 15 jobs.