Visitor numbers soar at Britain's free museums and galleries: the government released figures which showed an average 83% rise in visits to museums and galleries which formerly charged. That is 30m extra visits, says the government, and something to be celebrated, according to the culture secretary, Tessa Jowell.
"These are inspirational figures," she said. "There is a real appetite for serious culture in this country - when the obstacle of entry fees is swept away, people come in their millions, and keep coming."
