DINOSAURS ruled the world for 200 million years – and now they are back.

Walking with Dinosaurs, based on the BBC TV series, is bringing the creatures back to life in a theatrical show that lets the audience get up close.

More than 15 life-sized dinosaurs take part in the show, including a 36ft-high, 56ftlong brachiosaurus and her 48ft-long child. The pair were on display in York yesterday.

The infamous T-Rex, which at 1.6 tons weighs more than a family car, also stars in the 90-minute show.

Each of ten large dinosaurs are controlled by three puppeteers and need 12 truck batteries to power them.

Five smaller dinosaurs, including Utahraptors and a baby T-Rex, are performed by actors in suits. The £10m show has been seen by more than a million people worldwide since its creation in 2007.

The tour will visit Newcastle Arena from July 7 to 12.

Tickets are £20 to £35, from dinosaurlive.com or on 0844- 875-9000.

Meanwhile, youngsters came face to face with lifelike dinosaurs yesterday.

The animatronic animals are on display at the Life centre, in Newcastle.

The exhibition explores the fascinating, and sometimes disgusting, subject of dinosaurs and their food, and will open to the public tomorrow.

Ian Simmons, from the centre, said: “It brings together life-sized animatronic models, skeleton casts, fossil evidence and scientific insights to reveal everything scientists now know about what and how dinosaurs ate.

“Visitors will become dinodetectives, studying dinosaur jaws, claws, guts and even poo, to discover what dinosaurs ate, using the same techniques that scientists use.”

The exhibition will be at the centre until November 1. The centre is open from 10am to 6pm, Mondays to Saturdays, and 11am to 6pm on Sundays.

Entry is £8 for adults, £5.85 for children and £6.95 for concessions.

The centre’s website is at life.org.uk