A VINTAGE teddy bear, mummified cat and 1907 High Sheriff's uniform are among items up for sponsorship at a Dorset museum.

The Priest's House Museum in Wimborne is seeking funding for a major refurbishment which will ensure the future preservation of the building and its unique exhibits.

And to help it raise match-funding for a £400,000 Heritage Lottery Fund bid, the museum is asking people to donate to sponsor an item from its catalogue.

"We are planning improvements based on what visitors told us they wanted, such as a lift to access the upper floor," said volunteer fundraiser Vanessa Joseph.

"We will be getting some grants from other sources, but we want the public to be involved, it is their museum."

Items up for sponsorship include a 1905 Steiff teddy bear, a mummified cat found walled up in a house in the 1600s (as a good luck charm) and one of only two examples of a type of Roman pump in the country.

An array of historic toys, archaeological finds and preserved household items are on the list.

"Our campaign will run into the new year and we are looking to put a bid in for lottery funding in March," said Ms Joseph.

"As well as securing the future of the museum itself, this will safeguard the future of the tourist information centre which will be incorporated into the museum."

The appeal was launched at the weekend alongside the museum's popular Great Pudding Stir, serving up a plate of Christmas pudding with a festive Victorian theme for the past 20 years.

Starting this week and running until December 23, from 10am to 4pm, visitors will be able to enjoy free admission to the museum.

Its period rooms have been transformed with traditional decorations, and seasonal refreshments will be available from the Garden Tea Room.

For further information contact the museum on 01202 882533 or visit priest-house.co.uk