AN EXQUISITE gold mechanical mouse is one of the star attractions in the silver and metals gallery which opens today at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle.

The gallery is part of a £10m makeover which is transforming County Durham’s most exciting house of treasures.

The mouse – 11cms long from whisker tip to toe – is set with seed pearls and has garnet eyes. It was made in 1818 and bought by Josephine Bowes in 1871.

This gem features in a vast array of previously unseen objects along with wellknown favourites made by some of the finest and most famous craftsmen, including Paul Storr.

Figurative bronzes, clocks, watches and tableware are on show, along with the Joseph Collection of porcelain boxes, formerly on loan to the Gilbert Collection at Somerset House.

A special feature is the enhanced interpretation and display of the mouse and the silver swan, now back on show after its recent conservation and performing daily.

The transformation of the building is part of a five-year plan and includes restoring the roof and improved visitor amenities.

The revamped Cafe Bowes now offers waitress service and promotes local produce.

The shop has also had a makeover and been extended to offer a wider range of gifts, books, stationery, toys and confectionery. The museum opens daily from 10am.

● A recent distinquished visitor was the celebrated art historian Christopher Lloyd, who gave a lecture to the Durham and Cleveland branch of The Art Fund at the Bowes Museum.

His talk was on the British as collectors of impressionist and post-impressionist art.

The setting was appropriate, not least because John and Joséphine Bowes were major collectors, but also because the Art Fund has contributed to the museum acquisitions, most recently A View of Barnard Castle from the River by Philip Wilson Steer and The Autumn Bride by Lucien Levy-Dhurmer.

Mr Lloyd, who was surveyor of the Queen’s pictures from 1988-2005, remarked that the nobly decorated Jubilee