THE Story Museum is hoping to complete its next chapter with the launch of a public appeal to raise the last £300,000 to upgrade its facilities.

As part of a £6m upgrade, from early 2020 there will be 10 new spaces for visitors to explore including a Whispering Wood, Treasure Chamber and an Enchanted Library.

With just £300,000 left to go, the museum hopes the public can help provide one final funding push to get the project completed.

The visitor attraction, which sprawls across three-storey Rochester House in Pembroke Street, aims to provide an immersive space where children can learn to enjoy books and literature.

Its new fundraising appeal, dubbed the 1,001 Stories Quest, was officially launched on Friday by award-winning Oxford author and illustrator Mini Grey who enthralled youngsters with readings from her book Biscuit Bear.

Museum co-director Caroline Jones said: “What a delicious way to launch our 1,001 Stories Quest, with the very talented Mini Grey, who’s long been involved with the museum, and our favourite kind of VIPs – local children – enjoying Mini’s story and the taste of a Biscuit Bear.

“We can’t promise a biscuit to everyone who donates to the 1,001 Stories Quest, but there are many other treats for those who do.

“Mini, these children and all of us at the Story Museum encourage everyone to get involved.”

As part of the upgrade, the Story Museum, which is a registered charity, is aiming to collect 1,001 of the greatest stories ever told, including Biscuit Bear, with the aim of sharing them in fun and interesting ways through readings, workshops and exhibits.

The 1,001 stories represent roughly one a week from birth to age 18.

The museum also hopes to gather an array of amazing objects to help to bring the stories to life for children or to reveal how they were created or changed the world.

Speaking after the launch, Ms Grey said: “The life of a Biscuit Bear is usually short and sweet but now Biscuit Bear has found somewhere else safe to be – in The Story Museum’s 1,001 Stories Collection.

“I’m thrilled that he’ll have a long and story-rich life with plenty of other story characters to play with – and hopefully safely out of reach of any hungry dogs.”

The Story Museum building was bought in 2009 by two anonymous donors, and has since been transformed by staff and volunteers into a veritable fantasy wonderland.

The museum first opened to the public in 2014, but this £6m upgrade will now aim to bring the whole building into use.

The quest will run for the next 18 months, until the museum reopens in its new form in early 2020.

Members of the public are able ‘join the quest’ at three levels: becoming a 'founding fellow' by donating £1,001, a story collector for £100.10, or a story seeker for a more affordable £10.01 pledge.

For more information or to make a donation visit storymuseum.org.uk/storiesquest or call 01865 807600.