North West

The council has blamed the pressure on the rates budget for the move, though it says it is still committed to telling this important historical story.

The American, who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean more than 75 years ago, landed in a farmer's field just outside the city.

The voluntary group which has run the centre for 20 years, says it is a tremendous loss to tourism, and report a big increase in enquiries since news of the closure was made public.

Our North-West reporter, Keiron Tourish, paid one last visit.