The new RNLI Henry Blogg Museum at Cromer was celebrating winning a major national award today.

The new RNLI Henry Blogg Museum was celebrating winning a major national award at the weekend.

The Interpret Britain and Ireland award was presented to the RNLI museum for the outstanding way it informs and involves the public.

Maureen La Frenais, RNLI project manager, said: “The award confirms the positive feedback we've had since the museum opened. It's proving to be a great for the RNLI Heritage Trust which preserves the history of the charity by caring for the objects and archives that tell the story of the lifesaving service since it began back in 1824.”

The awards are designed to recognise the art of sharing stories of natural and cultural significance.

Entrants had to score high marks against a range of rigorous criteria including imagination and innovation and good interpretation of details.

And local company Poppyland Publishing did the majority of the video for the museum, which forms part of the interactive offering.

The £1.8m museum, which only opened its doors in April, is the first purpose built museum to be launched by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for 60 years.

It focuses on Blogg, the country's most decorated lifeboatman, who joined the crew aged 18 in 1984 and was coxswain from 1909 to 1947.

Inside the museum guests can see the boat in which he carried out 154 rescues and saved 448 lives-the HF Bailey.

As well as his mannequin and medals there is also his armchair and some of his letters as well as old style life jackets and personalised patterns on fisherman's gansey jumpers.

tThe museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm in winter and 10am to 5pm in summer (July to September).

Admission is free. Contact 01263 511294.