THE fifth birthday celebrations of a major tourist attraction got under way yesterday.

Almost 300,000 people have visited The World of James Herriot in Thirsk, since it opened in March 1999.

The £1.4m centre, which transports visitors to the world of a Forties and Fifties vet, has had a £100,000 refit, including a new interactive gallery.

Yesterday television vet Trude Mostue made her first visit to the centre to officially open the new gallery.

Trude shot to fame after appearing in the BBC TV series Vets in Practice, where she was among a group of students training to be a vet.

The new gallery is designed to give children hands-on experience of what it is like to be a vet and features the latest in electronic wizardry.

Electronic games have been installed including 'vet's bag,' 'skull jigsaw,' 'feely' bags and 'operation.'

Centre manager, Sue Dalton said: "It is hard to believe we have been open for five years.

"Already almost 300,000 visitors have been through the door.

"We hope many people will want to come back and see what is new.

"This new gallery will allow us to extend our educational work with local schools - an initiative which is gathering pace all the time."

The centre refit includes a new block of toilets containing a baby changing area, a new exhibition area and a purpose-built garage for the Austin 7 used in the TV series All Creatures Great and Small.

Sliding doors have been fitted to the fold yard and more seating and paved areas provided.

The new exhibition area is already being put to use with a series of photographs on display by Kilburn-based photographer Tessa Bunney.

The exhibition, entitled Lamb, reflects the life of a hill farmer on the North York Moors.