YORK Minster has become the first cathedral in England to win a coveted accolade.

The historic landmark’s museum has been awarded full accreditation by the Museum, Libraries and Archives (MLA) Council for the standard of its visitor facilities, services and care.

The award relates to the spaces below the Minster known as the Undercroft, Treasury and Crypts and shows it has met or exceeded benchmarks in the way it operates.

The cathedral looks after about 300,000 historic objects and employs three full-time professionals to curate them, with the museum explaining how the site occupied by the Minster went from a Roman fortress to the largest medieval Gothic church north of the Alps.

The Reverend Glyn Webster, the Canon Chancellor of the Minster, said: “We are all thrilled the museum has received accreditation. We want local residents to know there is a remarkable museum right on their doorstep. This award recognises the high standard and service the museum provides and acknowledges the hard work of its volunteers and staff.”