VISITOR numbers were down over the winter at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum.

A report to Bournemouth council's management committee for the historic house states that visitor numbers were down by 1,315 on the previous winter, however this is deemed to be a good showing considering the building has undergone a major refurbishment during this time.

Its four galleries were closed completely between September and January to allow for the skylights to be refurbished and replaced with UV-resistant glass.

"Severe weather in March discouraged many visitors although the museum was only closed because of snow on one day," states the report by council head of tourism Chris Saunders.

"In addition, a rolling programme of road closures in Bath Hill and Russell Cotes Road for essential gas works has made access more difficult.

"For the year as a whole total visitor numbers increased to 50,365 and visitors to the museum itself (excluding café-only visitors) were 43,662, the highest since charging was introduced, which is extremely encouraging."

The committee, which meets on May 23, will discuss new security measures such as patrols and cameras to deal with "a spate of issues of anti-social behaviour including rough sleepers in the garden and free runners on the gallery roofs".