HARROGATE'S famous Victorian Turkish Baths will close for six months in September to allow extensive restoration to take place.

Once the refurbishment of the elaborately-decorated baths has been completed, members of the public will be permitted to view them free of charge when they are not in use.

The conservation plan has been produced by Peter Gaze Pace, chartered architects of York. Mr Pace said: "As the baths are so intact and very little conjecture is needed, most repairs can be carried out in a manner to match the original intention.

"We believe that the very best Italian craftsmen will have laid much of the mosaic and terrazzo floors.

"For once, there will be very little difference between the 19th century 'before pictures' and the 21st century 'after pictures.'"

Updated: 10:08 Tuesday, April 01, 2003