A NEW fundraising campaign has been launched to help restore a prestigious Bournemouth museum and gallery back to its former glory.

As part of its commitment to the community, insurer NFU Mutual has chosen the Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum as its nominated charity for the next three years.

Staff at the Westbourne-based office unveiled their plans to raise £132,000 to help repair the museum conservatory.

Lorrayne Blomfield, one of Westbourne's agents, said: "Russell Cotes is a piece of living history and the conservatory is as much a piece of art as the collections housed within the museum and gallery.

"Over the next three years, we will be organising fundraising events and rattling charity buckets so that the conservatory can be repaired and the staff don’t have to run around with buckets every time there is a downpour.

"NFU Mutual is committed to maintaining a presence in local towns and villages across the UK, so supporting a worthy local cause like Russell Cotes was a natural choice.

"As an insurer of listed and historic buildings, we understand the importance of preserving and protecting these wonderful old buildings for future generations."

Sarah Newman, programme director for the gallery, thanked NFU for the first donation of £250 to the project.

"This is a wonderful partnership," she said. "The founder of Russell Cotes worked for a mutual insurance company so to have the support of a mutual insurer for the restoration of our conservatory is very fitting."

Anyone interested in donating to the appeal can text LOVE VIEW to 70660 to donate £5 or call 01202 451858 to donate by card.