THE Press Save The NRM petition – signed by more than 13,500 people – has been presented to the Government by York Central MP Hugh Bayley.

The bundles of forms and coupons was handed over on the floor of the House of Commons on Monday night, before today’s crucial spending announcement by Chancellor George Osborne.

Museum bosses warned earlier this month that either the National Railway Museum in York, or one of its northern sister museums – the National Media Museum in Bradford or the National Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester – would almost certainly have to close if funding was cut by a further ten per cent, as feared.

The announcement prompted The Press to launch its petition, which won massive support in York and from round the world.

Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said last week the funding cut should be considerably less than had been feared and there was no reason why any of the museums should shut, but museum officials have been waiting for details of today’s announcement.

Mr Bayley said in the Commons the NRM was quite simply the world’s best railway museum.

He said: “If you want to see the original engineering drawings by George Stephenson for the Rocket, they are there.

“If you want to see the engine that 75 years ago set the steam engine world speed record, the Mallard, it is there.”