CASH-STRAPPED East Lothian Council has announced that the John Gray Centre’s museum will no longer be open on weekends.

The Haddington facility is home to the town’s library, museum, local history centre and archive service.

Opened in 2012, the project was funded by East Lothian Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland, and opened in March 2012, gaining a five-star grading from VisitScotland shortly thereafter.

The museum also has official accreditation from Museums Galleries Scotland and Arts Council England.

Previously, opening hours at the museum were 10am to 1pm and 2-4pm on Saturdays, while it was closed on Sundays.

Now, a spokesperson for the council has confirmed that the museum will not open on either Saturdays or Sundays.

Opening hours at the library, archives service and local history centre remain unchanged.

They said: “The John Gray Centre museum will temporarily close on Saturdays in accordance with the current council recruitment freeze and need for financial savings.

“Opening hours will be Wednesday to Friday 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm.”

The announcement is the latest in a series of “temporary” closures or changing of hours confirmed by the local authority.

Already, it has been confirmed that Longniddry Library will not be open on Mondays after next week, while East Linton Library’s opening hours on Fridays will change to 9am to 1pm and 2-4pm from October 20.

It also follows on the heels of the “temporary” closure of Macmerry Recycling Centre and the reduction of opening hours at John Muir Birthplace Museum in Dunbar.