HOPES that York’s National Railway Museum is safe from closure have been given a further boost by the Chancellor, who confirmed arts and museums budgets would be reduced by “just” five per cent.

Science museum group director Ian Blatchford warned earlier this month that a ten per cent cut would almost certainly result in the shutting of the NRM or one of its two sister museums in the north, the National Media Museum in Bradford and the National Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

The group said yesterday it was delighted the Government had ring-fenced the science base, which it said was a key driver of the economy.

“However, we’re not able to discuss the implications for our museums until we have the full details of the Spending Review, which we expect in the next day or two,” it said.

York council leader James Alexander said he still had significant concerns about the Government’s commitment to the future of the NRM and the other museums.