STAFF numbers at two Suffolk museums will be reduced as council bosses try and cut costs across heritage services.

One full-time member of staff at Moyse’s Hall museum in Bury St Edmunds will be made redundant, while a temporary full-time post and a part-time position will go at the West Stow archaeological site and country park.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council leaders said the cutbacks, which follow a consultation with staff, were necessary to “rise to the challenge of savings” and allow the continued operation of “valued services”.

The announcement of the cuts follows revelations that the council owns �6million of paintings, antiques, clothes and clocks – 80% of which are currently in storage.

Yesterday David Nettleton, who has previously stated that more of Bury St Edmund’s heritage and artefacts should be displayed or sold, said it was vital museum services were not harmed by cutbacks.

Independent borough councillor Mr Nettleton said that, given the economic environment, it is not possible to protect any one structure from changes or redundancies.

He added: “They can reorganise the structure as long as the service is not diminished. It is the level of service I would look at.”

A spokeswoman for St Edmundsbury Borough Council said the changes have been brought in to “reduce costs and protect valued services, which is what the public told us they wanted in last year’s budget consultation.”

She added that the new staffing structure, which will come into effect shortly, would not affect “opening hours, activities or exhibits” at either of the venues.