KEEPING youngsters entertained during the summer holidays will be child's play at one of the region's museums.

A child-friendly exhibition – Dolls, Bears and Robots – has opened at The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, offering an entertaining, informative and often nostalgic look at the history of toys and games from the 19th century to the present day.

Organised in collaboration with the Beamish Museum, the show provides an insight into the ways in which children’s interests, aspirations and preferences were influenced by the objects they played with.

The exhibition covers everything from board games to teddy bears and looks at the development of science fiction from the first robot toy through to Dr Who and Star Wars.

There are also clockwork toys, dolls and a display showing the impact television made on toy production with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Felix the Cat, Bagpuss and Muffin the Mule.

Children who are accompanied by an adult receive free admission to the museum.