AN exhibition inspired by ancient Egypt opens at a museum this weekend.

Footprints, an exhibition of hand-crafted Ancient Egyptian textiles, will run at Newcastle's Hancock Museum from tomorrow until May 12.

It has been compiled by Fusion, a group of 24 people who have been meeting for an annual textiles workshop for the past three years.

Footprints is the group's first exhibition, and was partly inspired by the museum's Land of the Pharaohs gallery.

It demonstrates a range of techniques from embroidery to painting, and incorporates materials including traditional silk, linen and papyrus.

Some of the pieces will be on sale, with prices from £200 to £1,000.

Maggie Smith, group organiser of Fusion and a lecturer in art and design at New College, Durham, said: "Working on the Footprints exhibition has been a tremendous experience for the whole group. This is the first time most of the group have exhibited their textiles and while it was hard work, we will definitely be doing it again."

The museum is running Nile crafts activities on Saturday, April 13 and April 20, from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm.