National Trust for Scotland has opened the retail area and café at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway - the first phase of the opening schedule for the attraction.

The first major museum to open in Scotland since 2007, the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum will house the most significant Burns collection of its kind including 5,000 historic artefacts, manuscripts and memorabilia of the bard.

The full exhibition which will bring the story of Burns, his life, loves and literature to life opens on 1 December 2010.

Museum director Nat Edwards said: "It is a great honour to welcome visitors over the threshold of this fantastic building for the first time.

"The café space is bright and inviting and we are sure it will go down a treat with the many local people who pop in regularly for some of our special recipe scones."

"We are now very much involved in the final push before opening, ensuring the delicate items which have been returned to Alloway are displayed in the best possible light, and that the technology and exhibits that help telling the story of Burns is all up and running. This is a very exciting time for the project and we'd really like to thank the people of Alloway and all our visitors for their support."

The exhibition within the new museum will be split into four sections - Identity, Inspiration, Fame and Creative Works - which will address every aspect of Burns' life, loves and work.