GRIFFITHSTOWN Railway Museum is closing due to financial pressures and local history enthusiasts have dubbed the closure a "big blow" to tourism in Torfaen.

The museum in a former Great Western Railway goods shed was dedicated to the railway heritage of Pontypool.

Martin Fay launched the private collection in 1993 before opening the museum to the public in 2001.

Mr Fay said: "It was a big decision but I can't do it any longer - financially it's broken me.

"I'm busy clearing the place at the moment - it'll close as soon as physically possible."

Mr Fay was a keen railway enthusiast and sold some of his own furniture to pay for items of memorabilia as he built up the museum's collection.

It includes signs, old railway uniforms, timetables and fencing.

He now hopes that most of the items will find a home in a new railway heritage project being planned for Newport.

Volunteer at the Blaenavon Heritage Railway, Alex Hinshelwood said: "It's a shame to see it close down because people used to visit our railway and visit the museum at the same time.

"The biggest loss of the museum is the collection because a lot of artefacts in the museum were of local interest and come from the area.

"The loss of the attraction itself is a big blow to Torfaen as far as tourism is concerned."

Pontypool was once a major centre for the railways in Wales, with the community of Griffithstown largely made up of workers on the Great Western Railway.

A Torfaen Council spokesman said: "It is unfortunate the railway museum will close due to financial pressures. Mr Fay has built an impressive collection of memorabilia which will hopefully find a new home and remain on public display for rail enthusiasts and the general public."