THE business community's involvement with Tyne and Wear Museums has resulted in £1.5m of investment in museum projects in the past ten years.

To celebrate that decade of partnership, a summer party was held at Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths and Museum, in Wallsend.

TV and radio personality Bill Steel made a guest appearance as Hostillius Secondus, centurion of the Roman Garrison, cutting a cake provided by human resources consultancy, Nigel Wright consultantcy.

More than 150 local and national companies have supported museum projects in the region.

These include exhibitions such as the Lindisfarne Gospels, and major redevelopment projects like the new Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.

Tyne and Wear Museums receives more than 1.1m visitors a year and is regarded as the best regional museum service in the country.

Its director Dr David Fleming said: "There is no point having museums and art galleries unless they are used, and Tyne and Wear Museum aims to provide the greatest variety, highest quality and broadest access to a nationally important collection.

"We cannot achieve this alone. The region's business community has a tremendous record of support both moral and financial."