VISITORS to a museum are to be treated to an ever-changing display of curios which have been collected over eight decades.

Hartlepool's museums service has accrued many artefacts in the 80 years it has been in business.

Some of the more diverse items are the focus of the new exhibition at Hartlepool Art Gallery.

Exhibits in the first display, which opened at the weekend, include prehistoric stone axes, a walrus tusk, the skull of a Condor and an early television set.

Museums officer Gail Foreman said: "Our aim is to create a special display of regularly changing exhibits with natural history, archaeology, paintings and decorative arts just a few of the areas which will be covered.

"The exhibition will also include a collection of ceramics with an animal theme, including a 'cow creamer' and a vase in the shape of a fish.''