A trade union representing civil service professionals has condemned as ‘baffling' plans to introduce charges or threaten closure at one of three major science museums in the North of England.

Prospect, the union whose membership includes around 5,000 curators and museum specialists, has called on culture ministers to abandon plans that would affect the National Railway Museum in York, the National Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester or the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Alan Leighton, Prospect national secretary said all national museums, galleries and other bodies face further budget cuts of up to 15%, amid rumours their sponsor, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, is set for the axe following the 2015/16 Spending Review on 26 June.

‘Further cuts of the magnitude suggested are bound to make organisations consider introducing charges and closing museum branches or floors - which the public will see as unacceptable,' Mr Leighton said.

'The financial logic for such cuts is baffling, given that every £1 spent on the arts generates £4 for the economy.'

He called on the government to make use of the creative industries to kick-start the economy.