A piece of the city's civic history has been sent away for a £13,500 spruce up after being persistently munched by moths.

Eastern Daily Press: How moths have damaged the upholstery of the lord mayor's coach. Picture: Norfolk Museums ServiceHow moths have damaged the upholstery of the lord mayor's coach. Picture: Norfolk Museums Service (Image: Norfolk Museums Service)

The Lord Mayor's Coach, which was built in the 1850s, has carried many a mayor through its life, but is now retired to pride of position on display at Strangers' Hall.

However, its new home has not come with out a price, as the civic coach has found itself at the mercy of the common clothes moth.

The ravenous winged insects have caused persistent problems in the museum, but previously exterminators have been able to deal with the issue.

But after recent health and safety regulations tied the museum's hands, they have instead been left with no choice but to replace its upholstery.

Eastern Daily Press: Shire Horses pull the civic coach carrying the Sheriff of Norwich, Mr Joe Stirling. Date: 1976. Picture: EN LibraryShire Horses pull the civic coach carrying the Sheriff of Norwich, Mr Joe Stirling. Date: 1976. Picture: EN Library (Image: Archant)

Sarah Norcross-Robinson, senior conservator for the Norfolk Museums Service, said: "Strangers Hall has had a long-term problem with clothes moths, which we have dealt with in different ways.

"In the past, Rentokil Pest Control would encase the coach in a bubble, which we would fill with carbon dioxide and suffocate them, but the little blighters would always come back.

"We would do this on around a five year cycle, but now health and safety regulations do not allow us to deal with them in this way any more."

The root of the problem is the horse hair in the upholstery of the coach, used to cushion the seat, which is particularly enticing to the insects.

Eastern Daily Press: Shire Horses pull the civic coach carrying the Sheriff of Norwich, Mr Joe Stirling. Date: 1976. Picture: EN LibraryShire Horses pull the civic coach carrying the Sheriff of Norwich, Mr Joe Stirling. Date: 1976. Picture: EN Library (Image: Archant)

Instead, museum service conservators have elected to strip and replace the upholstery and replace it with a foam filling to deter the moths.

To complete these works, the coach has been sent to a firm based in Kent, which will carry out the project.

The renovation is already under way, with the upholstery already sent back to Norfolk - as it was posing a threat to London's Lord Mayor's coach - which is also being worked on in Kent.

The upholstery is now being frozen at Gressenhall in an attempt to kill off any remaining moths and their eggs.

Eastern Daily Press: Lord Mayor's Coach/Carriage.Photo:Antony KellyCopy:For: Evening news-NEWSEvening News pics © 2006(01603) 772434Lord Mayor's Coach/Carriage.Photo:Antony KellyCopy:For: Evening news-NEWSEvening News pics © 2006(01603) 772434 (Image: ARCHANT NORFOLK PHOTOGRAPHIC © 2005)

The coach is due to be brought back to the county in the summer.

Eastern Daily Press: A Civic reception was held at Norwich City Hall last night (Tues) for Mick Banham to mark the end of his year as Lord Mayor of the City. The Civic Coach arrives.Photo: Paul HewittCopy: Mark NichollsFor: EDP newsEDP pics © 2006(01603) 772434A Civic reception was held at Norwich City Hall last night (Tues) for Mick Banham to mark the end of his year as Lord Mayor of the City. The Civic Coach arrives.Photo: Paul HewittCopy: Mark NichollsFor: EDP newsEDP pics © 2006(01603) 772434

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich's historic civic coach arrives at Norwich Cathedral for the annual Justice Service carrying High Sheriff of Norfolk, Georgina Holloway, Judge Mr Justice Christopher Clarke, Lord Mayor of Norwich Jenny Lay and Sheriff of Norwich Chris Higgins.; Photo by Simon FinlayNorwich's historic civic coach arrives at Norwich Cathedral for the annual Justice Service carrying High Sheriff of Norfolk, Georgina Holloway, Judge Mr Justice Christopher Clarke, Lord Mayor of Norwich Jenny Lay and Sheriff of Norwich Chris Higgins.; Photo by Simon Finlay (Image: Archant © 2011; 01603 772434)

Eastern Daily Press: Events - FestivalsThe Civic Coach was built in the 1830s and ranks amongst the finest of its type anywhere. The coach is the one piece of the city's regalia which is difficult to put on show because of its size. The coach was originally given to the city in 1911 by the then Lord Mayor of Norwich Alderman Sir Eustance Gurney, after it had been used during the visit of King George V to Norwich.Dated ?Photograph C2856Events - FestivalsThe Civic Coach was built in the 1830s and ranks amongst the finest of its type anywhere. The coach is the one piece of the city's regalia which is difficult to put on show because of its size. The coach was originally given to the city in 1911 by the then Lord Mayor of Norwich Alderman Sir Eustance Gurney, after it had been used during the visit of King George V to Norwich.Dated ?Photograph C2856