Two of the most expensive items acquired by Brontë guardians can be seen without paying a penny.

Brontë bosses at the Parsonage Museum, in Haworth, are throwing open the doors free of charge this Saturday to people living in BD20, 21 and 22 postcode areas.

They will see Emily Brontë’s artist’s box and a miniature poetry manuscript, written by Charlotte as a child, which cost the Brontë Society more than £60,000.

The treasures have been on show at the museum — the former home and shrine to the work of the three literary sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne — since it re-opened for the new season at the beginning of this month.

Work has also been carried out, with Heritage Lottery help, to improve the presentations in the historic rooms.

Museum staff are keen for local people to see the changes, as many contributed ideas to the development project through a visitor survey and a series of open evenings last year.

Andrew McCarthy, museum director, said: “There are some wonderful items on display this year, including things donated by local people, and these give an insight not only into the lives of the Brontës but also life generally in 19th-century Haworth.”

The museum is open from 11am-5pm - last admission is 4.30pm.