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One of London's top tourist attractions, the National Maritime Museum (NMM), is set to push ahead with new developments after receiving a substantial boost in funding.

A £20 million individual donation to the museum allowed it to launch plans for a brand new wing.

The museum announced that the gift, which will allow it to pursue a development at the heart of its location in Greenwich, was received from shipping magnate and philanthropist Sammy Ofer.

As a result of the contribution, which is thought to be the largest single donation by an individual to a cultural project in the UK, the NMM will launch a £35m project designed to boost its strategy to explore and present Britain's relationship with the sea.

The wing will include custom-designed exhibition spaces and accessible archives that will attract a higher volume of visitors from within the UK and abroad.

Lord Sterling, chairman of the National Maritime Museum, offered the establishment's 'deepest thanks' to Mr Ofer for his 'extraordinary generosity'.

Prime minister Gordon Brown said: 'Our maritime story is Britain's national story. This generous donation by Mr Ofer will help to ensure that current and future generations understand better the crucial role played by the sea in our history and the lives of those who depended upon it.

'I applaud this opportunity to promote engagement with our maritime past, present and future, which has only been made possible by this unique gift to the nation.'

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