A MUSEUM has marked 20 years since it signed an agreement to take over a historic water pumping station.

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the Museum of Power, in Langford, joining forces with Essex & Suffolk Water.

The museum is housed in the water company’s former pumping station and offers displays of steam and diesel engines.

A deal to secure the future of the museum was started in January 1997 and the attraction has grown in popularity ever since.

More than 17,000 visitors came through the doors during 2015 and tourists from around the globe have come from as far away as Germany, The Netherlands and even Australia.

To mark the anniversary Heidi Mottram, Chief Executive Officer of Essex & Suffolk Water along with ten members of the team spent a day volunteering at the museum.

Work included painting, cleaning and restoring assets at the museum.

Dick Waylen, chairman of Museum of Power said: “We’re so grateful to Essex & Suffolk Water for allowing us to be based in this wonderful location and to operate the Lilleshall triple-expansion steam water pump, without the company’s support over the past 20 years we would not be as successful as we currently are.”

Sarah Pinkerton, head of external communications at the water company, said: “The museum has an exciting strategy for expansion and attracting new visitors to such an interesting site at Langford, and recently attracted a grant from The Arts Council in Essex to fund a long-term sustainability programme.

“The volunteers at the museum are so passionate about the site and this funding is a wonderful reflection of their many years of hard work.

“I am pleased that the support that Essex & Suffolk Water provides has been so useful over the past 20 years and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the museum on its journey to becoming a top visitor attraction in Essex.”