Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry has opened its stores to the public for the very first time.

Officially opened by Minister of State for the Arts, Baroness Blackstone, the Collections centre is a cross between an exhibition, learning centre and store.

The new facility gives access to the Museum's vast reserve of object, archive, photograph and library collections. Visitors can can watch curators and conservators at work or delve into cabinets and drawers to get an insight into Manchester's industrial past.

The centre is supported by an £8.8m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the North West Museums Service, the Grimmitt Trust and the DCMS/Resource Designation Challenge Fund.

A fully staffed Welcome area and Study Room is available for visitors to pick up information sheets on specific subjects, access the collections database at computer terminals and talk to staff or use facilities to conduct personal research.

Director of the museum, Dr Patrick Greene, likened the centre to an attic in a house: 'It can be a thrilling, evocative experience to take a peep and see what's in there.'