A grant of more than �5m to help build a museum in Lincoln has been announced by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The money has been described as a massive breakthrough for the city, which has been planning the museum for nearly 10 years.

Designs for the �11.9m museum have already been approved and the new building will be made from local materials and have a roof like the city's famous cathedral.

Project leaders are now waiting for a final grant announcement from Europe before they start constructing the museum.

The development is hugely important as part of Lincoln's renaissance

Rod Giddins, English Heritage

Lincolnshire's many archaeological finds, including Roman coins and artefacts, will be housed in the museum.

The city's artistic history will also be explored and there will be temporary exhibitions.

It will be built next to the Usher Gallery in Danesgate and act as a gateway to the city's historic area that surrounds the cathedral.

If European Regional Development Funding of �3m is agreed then work on the museum will begin early next year and it is expected to open in 2005.

Rod Giddins, of English Heritage, said of the �5.14m grant: "The proposed development is hugely important as part of Lincoln's renaissance.

"The new museum will add vitality to the area and encourage more people to visit this wonderful historic city."