VISITORS to Sunderland will be able to take advantage of late opening at the city's Museum and Winter Gardens on Thursday.

As part of the city's festive celebrations, the Museum and Winter Gardens will stay open until 7.30pm, for an evening of Victorian leisure.

Visitors will not only be able to explore the museum's eight galleries and the gardens, but will be greeted by members of the Friends of Sunderland Museum dressed in Victorian costume.

In the Victorian room of the art gallery, visitors will learn about the museum's Victorian paintings from Alex Thirlaway, dressed as a wealthy Victorian collector for the evening.

Curator Juliet Horsely said: "With demonstrations, activities and tours there should be something for everyone during the centre's themed Victorian evening."

Visitors will also be able to take a guided tour of the winter gardens that replaced the original Victorian Gardens - destroyed by a German parachute mine in 1941 - and hear about its existence during the 1900s at 5.30pm and 6.30pm (each lasting about 5 minutes).

Alternatively, visitors will be able to take part in a guided tour of the gardens at 6.15pm and 6.45pm.