Permanent new home for 180-million-year-old fossil

It has taken the Milton Keynes Museum almost eight years to open the Ancient Gallery

A 180-million-year-old fossil has been moved to a permanent home in a museum's new gallery.

Milton Keynes Museum in Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, opened the gallery space on Thursday - the same day the city celebrated its 58th birthday.

The museum said the area will house the fossilised remains of an ichthyosaur, which was discovered during excavations of Caldecotte Lake.

Bill Griffiths, the museum's director, said: "At a time when museums are struggling with drops in revenue and hindered further by significant running costs, we really hope this gallery invigorates and entertains all who come to see it."

The new gallery "will shine a light on a very modern city", Mr Griffiths says

The ichthyosaur sea creature, known as Iggy, is 180 million years old. The museum said it hoped he can give visitors an idea of life when the city was under the sea.

The gallery will also house remnants of woolly mammoths and woolly rhinos which once walked Milton Keynes, the museum said.

Visitors can also explore exhibits from the palaeolithic and mesolithic times.

"You'll see how our ancestors lived, worked and played," Mr Griffiths said.

"Of all the community developments that began in the early days of Milton Keynes, the museum is the oldest and the most successful.

"We were started by people in the community for people in the community and we stay true to that today - this is the people's museum.

"We are thrilled to still be here, and to now be able to tell the history of Milton Keynes in such a vivid way is so exciting."

It has taken nearly eight years to open the new gallery, he added.

Mr Griffiths said: "I still think we are pioneers who are making the place better for our children.

"This gallery is all about a shared identity and knowing that we have all come from somewhere else to build our lives here.

"To know your roots and your heritage is important. This gallery provides that knowledge - and every part of it should wow you."