A MUSEUM marking it’s 60th anniversary is inviting the community in to discover the secrets of the past and help them capture living memories of more recent history.

Ancient relics including a 10,000 year old elk horn unearthed in the local graveyard, a stone age Quern Stone for hand grinding and a 271 year old fire engine which was the very first exhibit are among the many hidden gems in Bedale Museum.

Now volunteers who keep the centre going are calling on local people to discover it for themselves and help them record even more local history.

Committee member Richard Deakin said: "We would particularly like new exhibits and information from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s because after all that is all part of history now. Anyone who has any quirky stories from that era and old radios and televisions even, we would really like to take a look because that’s the only way museums get anything.

"Bedale Museum really is a hidden gem in itself, there is so much information and quite a few exhibits which give a varied and interesting insight into the social past of the town and the surrounding area. We would just like more people to see it and hopefully to get involved, we have some volunteers but there is a lot to do both in the museum and in the backroom sorting out.

"98 per cent of the exhibits here are from the local area, that’s what makes it so fascinating."

In the past the museum has staged exhibitions and displays with Durham University and other bodies. In 2016 Skeleton Science was held revolving around the remains of the Lady of York, a famous skeleton found in the city during archaeological excavations, 400 people came to see the display, and last year 1,500 extra visitors attended to view an exhibition of Roman finds from the Catterick Bridge excavations unearthed during work on the A1M.

Richard’s mother Mary Lou Deakin, 81, who has been a volunteer for over 20 years added: “We have information on people like Eva Asquith who was a real part of Bedale and a world renowned speedway rider. There is a lot here, we have census records and burial records it is an important place and we would really like more people to see it and support it.”

The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm on Mondays. Call 01677 427516 for information.