Free entry to Wales' leading museums meant admissions almost doubled in the past year.

The Welsh Assembly Government took the decision - six months ahead of England - to scrap admission charges in April 2001 and the eight National Museum and Gallery of Wales (NMGGW) sites have been reaping the dividends ever since.

The number of visitors rose by 87% - with a large increase in people returning for further visits, according to the NMGW annual report.

Significant investment in facilities and attractions at the venues also contributed to drawing greater numbers of people, the report concluded.

Anna Southall, the outgoing NMGW director, said the government's move to scrap charges had heralded a new beginning.

"Our main aim is to provide a wider and deeper understanding of Wales by highlighting its historic and existing strengths in a contemporary and dynamic way.

Free venues

National Museum of Wales, Cardiff Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans Roman museum, Caerleon Turner House Gallery, Penarth Big Pit, Blaenavon Welsh Slate Museum, Llanberis National Waterfront Museum

"The generous and far-sighted support of the Welsh Assembly Government towards funding free entry has been crucial to the successes highlighted in the report."

The increase follows an 85% increase, year on year, from April 2001-2002, showing there is no sign of the free entry policy's popularity diminishing.

The policy was hailed six months ago as an "outstanding success" by Assembly Culture Minister Jenny Randerson.

Attendance figures have also indicated a wider, cross-section of the general public visiting the museums.

Statistics for April 2001-2002 showed that, since the entry fees were scrapped:

• The Welsh Slate Museum at Llanberis has had 160% more visitors
• The Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagan's near Cardiff reported a 100% increase

The figures appear to show Ms Randerson has made good on the assembly's social inclusion promise to draw more people to the arts.

That could be key to Cardiff's all-Wales bid to become 2008's European Capital of Culture and to justifying the �100m Wales Millennium Centre multi-purpose arts house planned for 2004.

The National Museums and Galleries of Wales organisation is also embarking on redevelopments to improve more visitor facilities at Big the Big Pit industrial heritage museum in Blaenavon and the Museum of the Welsh Woollen Industry at Dre-fach Felindre near Llandysul.

The new National Waterfront Museum is still under development at Swansea's marina area.