Plans have been approved for a 'spectacular' new hangar at the Avro Heritage Museum near Adlington as part of a £10m expansion.

The new area will increase the exhibition space for the museum, allowing six new aeroplanes - previously held in storage - to be displayed.

Among the new aircraft is the Avro Shackleton, which was formerly displayed in the Aviation Hall at Manchester's Science and Industry Museum.

It's also hoped that the expansion will boost visitor numbers at what is already one of the area's most popular attractions.

Terry Barnes, museum chairman, said: "We welcome the decision of Stockport Council to support our plans to build this large exhibition hall.

"This will allow us to display all the major exhibits we have in our collection, many held in storage.

"It allows visitors to see how the Avro company rose from simple beginnings in the basement of a cotton mill in Ancoats, building aircraft of timber and cloth through to building some of the best known aircraft in the world, including the Lancaster and Vulcan bombers. Our collection had examples from each era.

"Exciting times ahead of us."

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The museum, based at Woodford Aerodrome, opened in 2015.

It displays legendary aircraft such as the Avro Vulcan and the Lancaster Bomber.

Stockport Council approved the expansion plans on January 22.

The museum will start a fundraiser soon to help secure donations to support the construction and fit out of the new exhibition space.