The Curiosity Shop – the mobile museum created by Hartlepool Museums Service – has proved a huge success, welcoming 35,000 visitors in its first five weeks.

The museum, funded by Renaissance in the Regions and a partnership between several Tees Valley museums, is touring the Tees Valley throughout 2005, setting up from scratch in a succession of empty shops.

Its first stop was Redcar High Street, where it displayed numerous curiosities on loan from local museums; including a furry fish and a hippopotamus skull.

Mark Simmons, audience development manager for Hartlepool Arts, Museums and Event Service, said: “The number of visitors to the Curiosity Shop has exceeded our wildest dreams, but more importantly it is inspiring people to go out and visit their local museum, sometimes for the first time.”

The museum’s next stop will be Stockton High Street, where it will be open from 9 May until 18 June. During the remainder of the year it will also set up shop in Hartlepool, Darlington and Middlesborough.