Part of one of east Yorkshire's biggest tourist attractions is closed to visitors after fears over safety.

Inspectors found that fire precautions at Sewerby Hall near Bridlington did not meet stringent conditions needed for public buildings.

Among the problems spotted were inadequate fire alarms and escapes which were too steep for wheelchairs.

Now council leaders have agreed to spend more than �200,000 to help it meet the safety standards.

Visitors to the house are currently banned from entering the top floor and numbers are restricted on the first two storeys.

Works of art

Dr David Marchant, the museum's registrar, said: "The problems are not insurmountable.

"The restrictions imposed on the number of visitors in the hall at any one time should not be a problem in the winter but it would probably affect people in the summer."

The hall, which boasts more than 1,000 works of art and a special collection of memorabilia dedicated to aviation pioneer Amy Johnson, is owned by East Riding Council.

The money earmarked by council leaders will be spent on replacing the fire alarms and emergency lighting systems and altering the fire escapes.

Handed over

Until then, the public, who pay up to �3.10 for admission to the house, cannot browse the exhibits on the top floor.

Only 50 visitors are allowed at any one time on the first floor and numbers are restricted to 180 on the ground floor.

Sewerby Hall, a Grade I listed building, attracted more than 110,000 visitors over the past summer.

It was built between 1714 and 1720, with later additions, and was owned by the Greame family before being handed to the council.