Museum bosses are seeking a new manager almost a year after the former director resigned amid acrimony.

The Bront Society, guardians of the Bront Parsonage Museum at Haworth, want a manager to spearhead development of the museum, which is a shrine to the three Bront sisters.

In April last year, Mike Hill, 50, resigned as director after being suspended pending an internal investigation.

He is now in charge of Cleveland Arts, based in Middlesbrough.

The Bront Society is advertising nationally and wants someone who "has vision, drive and flair to lead and develop the Bront Parsonage Museum".

The £22,659-a-year post calls for someone with experience in financing management projects and obtaining grant aid.

Bront Society chairman Margaret McCarthy stressed the job was not that of a director.

"This job is not a replacement for Mike Hill - it's a completely different job," she said.

Mr Hill's resignation sparked a rift among the Bront Society membership. The anger exploded at the annual meeting last June, at which members hit out at the 21-member Bront council, claiming they had been kept in the dark.

They heard the society was £80,000 in the red and had been hit by falling visitor figures.

Members voted to reduce the number of council members from 21 to 15.

The Bront Society did not reveal details of the investigation to the public and Mr Hill has remained tight-lipped about the issue.

The Parsonage Museum has this week opened its 2001 season with an exhibition of nine costumes from Sir Cliff Richard's musical version of Emily Bront's novel Wuthering Heights.

The costumes were chosen especially by Sir Cliff, who played Heathcliff, and include the yellow silk coat and black and gold coats he wore in the show.

Also on display will be dresses worn by women members of the cast.

The exhibition closes on March 27.

Another treat for visitors is a letter written by Charlotte Bront in which she describes her wedding dress and veil.