The centre is home to 1,000 wildfowl

Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum, in Halland, East Sussex, has been run by the county council since 1978 after it was donated by the Askew family.

Now the authority has announced plans to sell the site back to the family and is currently in negotiations.

It costs �150,000 a year to run the museum and the council said it is too expensive and not a good use of taxes.

'Great final season'

The council made the decision to sell the museum at a meeting on Tuesday.

The move means the attraction will stay open until September when it would be handed over to the buyers.

Tony Reid, lead cabinet member of transport and environment, said: "A sale to the Askew family would be ideal in all circumstances.

"I hope the county council can have a great final season at Bentley in its current form."

If the deal with the Askew family does not go ahead, the museum would be put on the market, the council said.