A NORTH-EAST museum that has captivated thousands of schoolchildren with its insight into Roman life has been handed an award.

Segedunum Roman Fort, in Wallsend, North Tyneside, is one of 19 organisations in the country to receive the Sandford Award for Heritage Education.

The judges praised the "excellent" resources for school parties, and the reconstructed bath house and section of Hadrian's Wall for adding extra dimensions to the archaeological remains.

The fort has been visited by more than 27,000 children since opening in June 2000.

Last year, it was listed among the top ten museums in the world, alongside the Picasso Museum, Paris, and the Museum of Fine Art, Boston, US, by a panel appointed by a national newspaper.