Polyester banners are to be erected outside the Ashmolean Museum so that tourists realise it is open to the public.

Four, eight-metre high flagpoles are to be mounted with banners to tell tourists and locals that they are allowed into the "formidable" building.

The city planning committee has approved the scheme after councillors agreed many people were unaware what the classical building in Beaumont Street actually is.

Cllr Maureen Christian said: "The museum director is very anxious to increase the numbers who go into the Ashmolean. It's a formidable building that members of the public think is a private establishment.

"I have actually been stopped on Beaumont Street and asked where the Ashmolean was. I think the banners will make it more welcoming and more accessible.

"It's the oldest museum in the country and it requires quite a lot of support from tourists who are, at the moment, not aware that they can go inside."

Ashmolean administrator Roger Hobby welcomed the news and said the banners would be simple and tasteful.

He said: "They should have an image from each of the collections and the name of the museum, nice and simple. It's good to get people in off the streets. The banners will signal that this is not an old courthouse, but a museum, open to all.

"We have to start selling the museum to the people and break away from the idea that museums are stale.

"This will be good for the city and good for us."