London has seen visitor numbers drop by 40% over the past eight weeks, as a combination of events have reduced visitors and tourists in central London. Very wet weather in May and July combined with the celebrations for the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee have meant that visitors have stayed away at what should have been the museum's busiest time of the year.

The museum's current family-friendly exhibition Animal Crackers includes everything from Peppa Pig, Simon's Cat and Gnasher to political cartoons featuring fat cats and British lions. The museum is also holding special summer cartooning and animation workshops for young people.

To give even more people the chance to visit, the museum is extending its opening hours and will open on Mondays from the 6th August 2012. Museum Chairman, Oliver Preston says: "We are really keen to welcome new visitors as we have been one of the most successful small museums, and have recorded over a quarter of a million visitors since we opened in 2006. We receive no government or local authority funding, and the museum survives on its admission income, shop and charitable fundraising. Our visitor numbers and income have been hit hard as the streets remain empty."

Preston continued: "We are opening the museum seven days a week so that after the Olympics, we can try and attract families and visitors to come and see the exhibition that includes Wallace and Gromit, Mickey Mouse and animals in cartoons and comics over the past two hundred years. It's a lot of fun and also educational. We are delighted that the Olympics have been such an exciting success, but we really want visitors to return after the closing ceremony."

The museum is open seven days per week, 10.00 am - 5.30pm, Sundays 12.00 - 5.30pm. You can contact Anita O'Brien for more information and can see more about the museum at www.cartoonmuseum.org or call 0207 631 0793. Images from Animal Crackers are available for reproduction, and filming is permitted at the museum.