Somerset County Council (SCC) has received a £10,000 boost from the Somerset Military Museum Trust towards a scheme to redevelop the Taunton attraction.

The Museum of Somerset at Taunton Castle, which is undergoing a £6.93m renovation, will house the Military Museum and will explore the history of the county's regiments dating back to the 17th century. Artefacts set to go on display at the attraction include the Gateway of India - a silver model of a gateway to Bombay (Mumbai) harbour, which was presented to the Somerset Light Infantry in 1948.

Construction work started at the castle last year and it is hoped that the museum will be ready to open in spring 2011. The scheme has also been handed £4.8m by the Heritage Lottery Fund. SCC county heritage and libraries officer Tom Mayberry said: "We are very grateful for this donation supporting the redevelopment of the Somerset Military Museum. It will help us greatly to conserve and display some very important parts of Somerset's rich history."