IT was a struggle to reopen Amersham Museum on time but curator Monica Mullins eventually managed it through sheer hard work and determination.

The £95,000 refurbishment at the museum in the High Street, Old Amersham, was eventually revealed on Saturday after a year of building and collecting new exhibits.

Mrs Mullins said: "Last week we didn't think we could possibly open. Last Tuesday night it was just chaos. Builders were in and everything was just everywhere. We made all the displays at home and had to put it in in two days. It was a mad rush and the problem was that all the publicity had been put out which said we were going to be open on August 11. But inevitably things slip behind."

However, it was ready for the public after a group from the museum got together to clean up and organise the displays.

Among the new attractions at the museum is a special exhibition of the history of Shardeloes from the 14th century to present day and the story of the town, its people and wildlife.

Mrs Mullins said they were delighted with the turnout on the big day, saying, "We had a lot of people visit us over the weekend. About 80 people which is good as we don't get nearly as much as that. And we had nearly 50 on Sunday. People kept saying how lovely it was and were really enthusiastic. Everyone was chatting and it felt very rewarding."

They decided to refurbish the museum as it used to be tucked away in an alley which meant potential visitors would walk past it.

The museum has now been transformed, incorporating the shop next door which means it is easier to see from the road.

However Mrs Mullins said that not everyone in Amersham was happy with the new frontage to the museum.

She explained: "An awful lot of people in the High Street don't like it as they see it is olde-worlde and and that it should never be changed. But in designing it we have picked up features of the High Street like the bay windows, and we have kept it as the red brick.

"Before we had the extension, the museum was half the size and we had a funny window and it was blocked out and very dark. The front will now be a work room and the place to store the photos and people can come to look at records. But it will be by appointment only, as we are all volunteers.

"It hasn't been an easy job. It may be just a room extension but it has been quite awkward. It is a little building."

The historical centre was started in 1991 after a recluse, who lived in the house, died.

Mrs Mullins said the house was in a terrible condition with water pouring through the roof, but they decided they wanted to buy it.

Mrs Mullins said the visitors were impressed with the new-look museum and especially liked the herb garden and the displays.

She added: "There are all sorts of things that the visitors loved, but they picked out the Glis glis (edible dormouse). It was given to us by some people from Amersham who found it dead in their house.

"Visitors were very intrigued by it and the people who gave it to us came to see it too. Visitors also loved the photos of the Amersham Martyrs, as most of them were in the play."

She said: "The Amersham through the Ages display creates a lot of interest and we have actually put it in book form. And we have had lots of exhibits donated to us. Some are found from behind the fireplaces in old houses.

"They used to tuck them behind the chimney breast to bring good luck. They were quite superstitious."

Mrs Mullins said for the next project they would like to transform the toilet at the end of the garden.

She said: "The old privy is next to the stream at the bottom of the garden, and you can make your own mind up how it used to work. We were thinking of restoring it as an exhibit.

"But the problem is they did that at the Chiltern Open Air Museum and people started using it. We don't fancy that."