A grassroots campaign is growing in protest at threats to close an Oxfordshire museum.

As reported in Monday's Oxford Mail, Oxfordshire County Council has suggested closing Cogges Manor Farm Museum, in Witney, to save cash.

A fundamental review of the county's museums service has been ordered to save £250,000, including compulsory redundancies.

This could involve selling the 20-acre farm museum site, possibly for housing.

Since the plans were announced last week, however, supporters of the museum have rallied round.

Witney mum Claire Wells, of Chedworth Drive, takes her two young sons to the museum at least three times a week.

She said: "We love the peace and quiet of the farm and enjoy getting to know the animals."

The county council owns the museum and this is not the first time it has threatened closure.

In 1998, with similar financial problems, West Oxfordshire District Council came to the rescue and took over the daily management for several years before handing it back to the county.

West Oxfordshire District Council leader Barry Norton said: "Cogges needs to change, to be more flexible.

"The county took it back on the basis that they were going to have a very robust marketing exercise to get more people through the doors. I am not sure that has been done."

When the district took over Cogges it was costing about £250,000 a year to run and was getting only half of that back in income. The loss was met by district council taxpayers.

Figures show costs have risen to £340,000 a year and visitors are down to 25,000 a year.

The need for Cogges Manor Farm - opened in 1978 and a Grade II-listed building - to change has been taken up by Don Chapman, of Mill Street, Eynsham.

He said: "At a time when everybody, not least the county council, is urging us to combat global warming it would be ironic if a reminder of a more eco-friendly age should fall victim to cost-cutting."

Support has also come from another Oxfordshire visitor attraction, the Pendon Museum Trust at Long Wittenham. Dr Charles Swaisland, vice president, said: "Surely it is a case for rebranding rather than closure? The very idea has the uncomfortable feeling about it of disposal of family silver."

Martyn Brown, the county's heritage and arts officer, has said "the process is driven by the need to save money."

No decision on the future of Cogges, however, is expected until the New Year.