A MASSIVE store could be created to put thousands of York museum artefacts on public show.

The proposed custom-made building could cost up to £20 million, and take artefacts previously unseen by York's public out of storerooms across the city.

It is hoped they will be put in a specially-built, atmosphere-controlled building which would effectively become a huge new museum.

The plan is being worked on by a partnership including City of York Council, the National Railway Museum, the York Archaeological Trust, English Heritage and York Minster.

Charlie Croft, acting head of the York Leisure Office, said: "The plan is about better storage for museum artefacts and, above all, better access for the people of York."

He added: "Under this scheme, anybody could go in, ask for what they want to see and spend time studying it.

"This would be great for scholars."

The new scheme would also aim to catalogue the artefacts on the internet, giving York's collection a worldwide audience.

The partnership is working now to make a bid for Government cash for the building by the end of this month.

Mr Croft said: "One of the problems at the moment is finding a site for it. It is going to have to be purpose built, and ideally it would be in a city centre location to give the best access possible.

"Some new jobs could be created for front of house staff to help with the public."

Updated: 11:11 Monday, September 10, 2001