Story of the Staffordshire Hoard on display in Shropshire

An interactive exhibition depicting the story of how the Staffordshire Hoard was found and saved for the nation has arrived in Market Drayton.

Featuring high quality replicas of some of the treasure, video footage, and interactive displays, the exhibition retells the story of the world's largest ever discovery of Anglo-Saxon treasure.

It is on display at the Festival Drayton Centre in Market Drayton until January 18.

The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork yet found.

Robyn Edwards, from the Festival Drayton Centre, said: "We are thrilled this exhibition has come to the Festival Drayton Centre.

"The exhibition contains high quality replicas and exciting interactive elements.

"We are open until 5pm daily so anybody can pop in and have a look. It looks absolutely fabulous and we have had quite a few visitors already so come along and see for yourself."

Created by the museums team at Staffordshire County Council with the help of the Mercian Trail Partnership, the Staffordshire Hoard Mercian Trail Community Touring Exhibition 'Treasure, The Discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard' will travel to venues across Staffordshire and the West Midlands over the next few years.

Perfect for adults and children alike, it features high quality replicas of the Staffordshire Hoard, showing how it might have looked when it was first crafted, alongside hands-on interactive.

The interactive display allows members of the public to have a go at detecting for treasure and cleaning pieces of the hoard.

Handling objects and try-on period costumes are also on display to help bring the Anglo-Saxons to life for visitors.

The Hoard was discovered in a field near the village of Hammerwich, near Lichfield, in July 2009. It consists of more than 3,500 items and there are permanent displays in Birmingham and Stoke.