A MUCH loved tourist attraction and steam heritage site is set to close at the end of the 2024 season.

Dingles Fairground Museum in Lifton has announced that it will close at the end of this year’s season, with the collection set to be dispersed to other locations, including the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust in Tamworth, Staffordshire.

It blamed the likelihood of increased rents and the rural location of the site.

A spokesperson for the Fairground Heritage Trust, which operates Dingles Fairground Museum said: “The Fairground Heritage Trust is saddened to announce that Dingles Fairground Museum will close at the end of the 2024 season.

“A large number of factors have combined to force the trustees to take this very difficult decision.

“Since the pandemic, it is increasingly clear that with a limited season, a remote site and a scattered, rural local population the site is not viable as a stand-alone single product Museum attraction. In addition, we have long benefitted from favourable rents and, as our lease is due to expire shortly, that will inevitably lead to further cost increases.

“This, taken together with aforementioned reasons we can see no viable path to continue to operate in Devon.”

The Museum Hall is set to close in August with the Rides Hall set to remain open until the autumn half term.