A MUSEUM which attracted 35,000 visitors during a recent five-week stay in Redcar, has opened in Stockton.

The Curiosity Shop, which features many weird and wonderful items on loan from local museums, will be in the town until Saturday, June 18.

The attraction is setting up in empty shops around the Tees Valley, and will be in Stockton High Street, in the former Dixons shop, near the Swallow Hotel, and the Iceland store.

It will then be packed up again ready to move to Hartlepool.

"Taking an entire museum on tour around the Tees Valley is a very big operation and we also have to work against the clock," said Mark Simmons, audience development manager for Hartlepool Arts, Museums and Events.

"In just ten days, the team has had to give the Stockton shop a complete makeover in readiness, pack up in Redcar and carefully move everything ready for the Stockton opening.

"We use a huge 65ft articulated lorry to move ten tonnes of equipment, including the displays, the lights and electrical gear, and all the artefacts including a two-headed lamb, a furry fish and a polar bear."

Paul Lake, visitor services manager for Stockton Borough Council's museums service, said: "Stockton has two museums and an art gallery displaying many changing and varied objects and exhibitions. We hope a trip to the Curiosity Shop will inspire people to explore and have fun."

Admission to the Curiosity Shop is free, and it is open six days a week, from 10am to 5pm.