One of the country's top rural museums, at Cogges in Witney, could be mothballed because of the burden of running costs falling on local councils.

The drastic measure would see the gates closed, animals sold off, and just a caretaker on site to deter vandalism and look after the valuable collection of old farm and farmhouse implements and machinery.

The shutdown is one of three options being considered for the future of Cogges Manor Farm Museum at a meeting of the county council's executive on Tuesday.

The others are a slashed service -- opening the museum doors for booked school parties, and only during the summer holidays for the general public -- or a major investment and promotion programme.

That would require £1m to be raised in two years.

The museum is owned by the county council but has been managed since the late 1990s by West Oxfordshire District Council. Budget pressures and the need to make savings are forcing the district to hand back the management to the county in April next year. The annual losses are running at about £200,000.

Barry Norton, district council leader, said: "We only took it on in the first place because the county had similar pressures on its budget.

"Visitor numbers have been dropping. They were hit both by the foot-and-mouth outbreak and then by the fall in foreign visitors after 9/11.

The number of school visits have also fallen.

"We will, however, continue to promote Cogges through our leisure department and some form of partnership."

Visitor numbers this year are expected to be about 30,000.

The museum is built around old farmhouse buildings, some dating back 700 years, and recreates a Victorian scene -- with rare breeds of pigs, sheep and other farm animals.

Visitors can see hand-milking, butter making, home bakery on an old kitchen range.

Demonstrations of rural crafts and activities are held most weekends.

It is open this year until October 31 and admission costs are £4.40 for adults, £2.30 for children, and a family ticket £12.90.

The museum is the major visitor attraction in Witney and, according to Keith Bartley, the county's director for learning and culture, is a national treasure providing "a very special educational experience for children from Oxfordshire and surrounding counties". Mr Bartley's report to the executive makes no preference for any of the three options.

Both closure and reduced service, however, would provide significant savings.