Video and pictures: High life for painters at RAF Cosford Museum

It is the first time the two hangars, which house some of the museum's main exhibits, have been painted in more than 25 years.

Workers from Advanced Coating Systems, based in Kinver, have been out on ropes and platforms to paint the fronts of the huge hangars.

Alan Edwards, site manager at the RAF Museum Cosford said: "We are pleased with how the work is progressing so far and the new colour scheme gives the hangars a modern look which is in keeping with the adjacent National Cold War Exhibition.

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"We are continually working to improve the museums offer and the visitor experience and we look forward to seeing the hangars once the work is complete."

The main walls of the building are being painted in a colour called shadow while gutters and downpipes will be painted in blue mink. Both of the wartime hangars are being painted and the work is expected to take up to four weeks to complete.

More than 70 aircraft of international importance are housed in the wartime hangars and within the National Cold War Exhibition.

The world's oldest Spitfire and a Lincoln bomber are two highlights in the War in the Air Collection. The test flight area includes the TSR2 and Bristol Type 188, which were constructed from stainless steel.

The transport collection in hangar one includes the Comet 1A and Gnat T1, previously used by the Red Arrows. The overall engine and missile collection has more than 60 items, making it one of the finest in the world.

The £12.5 million National Cold War Exhibition was opened at Cosford by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne in 2007 and is the only place in UK to house the Vulcan, Victor and Valiant bombers.