MUSEUM visitors have said farewell to Dippy the Diplodocus following a record-breaking stay in the region.

People flocked to seethe famous dinosaur skeleton during its stay at the Great North Museum: Hancock in

Newcastle.

The museum welcomed 304,117 visitors to Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure between May and October, an increase of 51 per cent when compared with the previous decade.

Museum manager Caroline McDonald said: “It has been an incredible few months for us. Undoubtedly, Dippy has had an enormously positive effect on the museum, with attendance, donations, retail sales and catering sales all well up on target.

“We expect the benefit to the local economy to be upwards of £1 million.

“Dippy has thrilled hundreds of thousands of visitors in the North-East and been guest of honour at three weddings.”

Over 10,000 children from 206 schools across the region have enjoyed trips to see Dippy in Newcastle.

Ten schools saw banners they created displayed in the museum-wide exhibition, which focused on the current climate emergency, extinction and local wildlife conservation.

The 292-bone skeleton cast will now be packed carefully into 16 crates before its transit to the National Museum Cardiff in a special fleet of vehicles. The exhibition in Wales opens on Saturday, October 19.

Ms McDonald said: “We are sad to see him leave but know that his UK tour will continue in style at the National Museum Cardiff.”

Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure is brought to visitors across the UK by the Natural History Museum and the Garfield Weston Foundation,

Director of the Natural History Museum, Sir Michael Dixon, said: “We are thrilled that Dippy on Tour has brought record visitors to the Great North Museum: Hancock.

“It was our hope that Dippy would help children discover the wonders of natural history and encourage a passion for science and nature so we are particularly delighted to hear that in Newcastle, with Dippy’s help, thousands of schoolchildren have learned about climate change and the problems our planet is facing right now.”