A NORTH Yorkshire museum dedicated to the life of renowned explorer Captain James Cook has secured funding to complete a major facelift scheme.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has provided £200,000 to complete a refit of the Grade-II listed building which houses the Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum in Great Ayton, which was where the seafarer was educated and has been open since 1928.

The work will double the size of the museum and is expected to take place over the winter and be completed by next spring.