Dawlish Museum could be welcoming visitors again next year, if plans to reopen its ground floor come to fruition.

The museum was unable to open for its summer season this year because of Covid-19, losing out on income from visitors, while still incurring the maintenance costs involved in keeping its collection at the right temperature and humidity.

Because the building is a former gentleman's residence, with 11 galleries on three floors, it could not operate a one-way system to conform with social distancing guidelines, even when other museums and galleries were allowed to reopen.

The museum received a grant from Teignbridge District Council which provided a welcome breathing space, and its management team are hoping to find a way of opening part of the building next year, although nothing has been finalised yet.

[DVD sales to support Dawlish Museum

In the meantime, anyone who would like to support the museum is invited to buy one – or both – of two DVDs it has produced.

The first tells the story of the memorable storm in early 2014 that left the railway line hanging in mid-air and the local rail network cut off from the rest of the UK.

The DVD features eye-witness accounts, time-lapse footage and aerial images, capturing the extent of the damage and the huge efforts by Network Rail to get the line repaired and trains running again. Running time is 37 minutes.

The second DVD tells the story of Dawlish's famous black swans, from their original arrival in the town. It includes six months' worth of footage, following the hatching and development of a family of young cygnets.

It also goes behind the scenes to explore the work of Dawlish's waterfowl wardens and volunteers, supporting the wildlife of Dawlish Brook. Running time 30 minutes.

The Great Storm DVD is £10 and Dawlish and the Black Swans £5, including postage and packing in the UK.