TELEVISION personality Johnny Ball will be in the region tomorrow to open a mobile museum.

The entertainer, famous for his fun portrayal of science and maths on children's television, will open The Curiosity Shop, in Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, Hartlepool.

The attraction, which is full of weird and wonderful items, is touring the Tees Valley, setting up in empty shops.

It has visited Redcar and Stockton and proved hugely popular, attracting more than 50,000 visitors.

It will be in Hartlepool until August 29 and has new features, including life-sized Dr Who models created by local model-maker Paul Bianco.

They will be exhibited on their own at the Museum of Hartlepool later this year.

The mobile museum also has a 10ft squid in the window and the town's recently-discovered "monkey" bone, which was found to be from a prehistoric deer.

Other attractions include a furry fish, a hippopotamus skull and the world's smallest cat and dog.

Entry to The Curiosity Shop is free, and it is open Monday to Saturday, from 9.30am to 5pm, including Bank Holidays.

Mark Simmons, of Hartlepool Arts, Museums and Events Service, said: "One of the first sights that usually confronts visitors to The Curiosity Shop is a specially produced movie presentation by Johnny Ball, but we are delighted to be welcoming him in person to the shop's official opening in Hartlepool."

Published: 01/07/2005