STAFF at a North Yorkshire museum have been given a wake-up call ahead of this weekend's opening event.

The Ryedale Folk Museum, in Hutton-le-Hole, is coming out of hibernation after its winter break.

And although visitors have not been calling in at the attraction, staff have been hard at work behind the scenes ahead of the 2003 season.

Maureen Wass, from the museum, said: "We have had a busy winter and have been preparing the museum for this year's visitors - it's a wake-up call for the opening day on Sunday."

And to mark the new year, the Folk Museum are offering free entry to the first family of two adults and two children through the door.

The museum is open from 10am to 5.30pm daily, until the end of the season on Sunday November 2.

Updated: 10:33 Thursday, March 06, 2003