DETAILED proposals for the creation of a military museum dedicated to the famous Fusiliers regiment have been approved.

The location in the historic Grade II listed Arts and Crafts building in Broad Street will house a collection of memorabilia from the Lancashire Fusiliers and become home to a growing collection of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. It will also become the regimental headquarters currently based at the museum building in Bolton Road, Bury.

The basement of the building will continue to be used as arts and crafts workshops.

The major changes will involve the ground and first- floors, plus the creation of a brick and glazed extension taking in part of Sparrow Park in Silver Street. However, the Fusiliers Museum Appeal's bid to raise the £3.3 million funding for the mammoth project is far from over.

Last month, the campaign suffered a major setback after it lost out on an anticipated grant of £350,000. Instead it received £50,000 from Biffaward, leaving the project £300,000 short and jeopardising a promised £2 million payout from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Now, with planning permission in the bag, project appeal staff are in a race against time to find alternative ways to raise funding. Anyone with ideas about fundraising should call the museum on 764 2208 or the campaign office on either 764 2810 or 764 3459.