ENTRY to the County Museum at Hartlebury Castle will be free of charge on Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14 from 11am to 5pm, as part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme.

Families will save £13 by visiting at these times, as well as experience a host of special tours and interactive activities that will bring the site’s history to life.

Rachel Robinson, manager of the visitor attraction, said: “This weekend provides a great opportunity for people to see behind-the-scenes at our museum, join in with some fun and educational sessions and have a good look around our permanent exhibitions.

“Best of all, in these difficult economic times, it’s a completely free day out.”

On Saturday there will be three tours of the museum’s collections centre store, which is based two miles away from the main site.

At 11.30am archaeological finds excavated in Worcestershire will be exhibited and at 1pm social history will be explored, while at 2.30pm visitors can learn about the museum’s methods of battling pests, rust and poisons in its collections.

On Sunday family friendly activities will take place at the museum itself, including a chance to meet the famous Samuel Pepys, watch the castle’s scullery maid working hard or get hands-on with historical treasures.

For more details contact Pippa Ashmore at the County Museum on 01299 250416.