National Museum Cardiff to reopen on Friday after mechanical fault

The museum said at the weekend that it had to shut the building to the public because of a “mechanical issue caused by a component failure in an isolated area of the building”.

It is not known publicly what the mechanical issue, or component failure, is. The museum has so far not responded to requests from BBC Wales to explain more.

Chief executive, Jane Richardson, said: “Like so many institutions across Wales and the UK, managing and maintaining aging buildings is an ongoing challenge.

“I would like to thank all our staff and suppliers who have been working night and day to resolve the issue to help minimise any disruption to our visitors.

“We are also extremely grateful for all the heartfelt support, patience and understanding from the public during this period and we are looking forward to welcoming you all back.”

The Welsh government gave assurances last year that the National Museum, which dates back to the early 20th Century, would remain open.

An extra £3.2m was provided for emergency repairs at the museum and the National Library of Wales last July.

But Amgueddfa Cymru warned it would “not go far enough”, with an estimated £25m needed for critical urgent repairs.