Museums and galleries across Norfolk have begun to close amid concerns over the coronavirus.

Strangers’ Hall and the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell have announced they will be closed until further notice.

Norfolk County Council said those museums had been shut to divert staff to ensure that Norwich Castle and the Shire Hall Study Centre could remain open.

However, with national museums such as London’s Natural History Museum, British Museum and Science Museum among high-profile museums to shut, the situation with Norfolk’s museums remains under review.

The Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia has also closed.

A tweet from the centre, which has been hosting its Art Deco By The Sea exhibition, stated: “We are following government guidelines and will keep you informed via social media and our website. All tickets will be honoured or refunded.”

The Museum of the Broads at Stalham has also made the decision not to open for its new season. The museum tweeted: “Due to the COVID-19 virus we have taken the decision not to reopen next week.

“We have also cancelled some of our events and are postponing others.”