BARGAIN-hunting families are flocking to local attractions in record numbers.
Kirklees Museums and Galleries ended 2010 with their best visitor figures for a decade.
And officials believe much of the success is down to local families anxious to save pennies on family days out.
Figures just released show that in the period October to December, a total of 317,166 people, including schools groups, visited the council-run museums, galleries and historic sites.
That figure is 35.5% up on the same period in 2009 and was the highest number recorded for that quarter since the start of this millennium.
One of the biggest success stories was Oakwell Hall and Country Park, which saw increases in the number of Visitor Centre visits (99,054), Countryside Centre (52,890) and Hall (13,828).
Tolson Museum, in Ravensknowle Park, attracted 28,934 people in the three months, while Bagshaw Museum at Batley had 32,054 visitors.
The newly-refurbished and re-opened Dewsbury Museum saw 12,327 visitors.
Most of the museums organised special family days and that has led to the success.
Clr Mary Harkin, Cabinet member for leisure, said: “These figures are fantastic, especially given the heavy snow in November and December which obviously had an adverse effect on people getting out and about.
“Despite best efforts to remain open, the weather forced some of the sites to close or shut early at times.
“In a time when people do not have the same money available to spend on outings and activities, our museums and galleries are providing an entertaining, educational and social experience for families and children which is mostly free or low cost.
“We aim to provide displays, exhibitions, activities and learning opportunities that people want and are value for money and these figures prove we are doing just that.
“They are also a tribute to our dedicated staff who are the public face of the museums and galleries service and who deliver most of the events.”
Admission is free at Bagshaw Museum, Dewsbury Museum, Red House and Tolson Museum, Huddersfield Art Gallery and Batley Art Gallery.
There is a small charge to enter Oakwell Hall, but the country park and woodlands are free, and a small charge at Victoria Tower on Castle Hill, which revealed earlier this month that they were extending opening hours in 2011 because of a growing number of visits.
There is a small charge for some of the organised children’s activities, workshops and training courses but there are also free activities such as trails, quizzes, demonstrations, guided walks and drawing activities.
