A MUSEUM nearing the end of lengthy renovation work has reopened a few weeks ahead of schedule to showcase an exhibition.

Durham University's Oriental Museum is undergoing a £500,000 refit, creating new gallery space to expand the number of exhibits from its collection which can be placed on permanent display.

The 1960s-built museum, formerly known as the Gulbenkian, closed in November last year for the start of its first major refurbishment, backed by Heritage Lottery and European funding.

With finishing touches still to be completed before next month's planned relaunch, the museum is opening, in part, during the next few weeks to display a collection of East African art.

Among the exhibits on display are political cartoons and paintings by Mohamed Abusabib, and pen and ink pieces by Ibrahim El-Salahi, who studied at the Slade in London.

The exhibition can be seen throughout September, at the museum in Windmill Hill, off South Road, Durham.

The museum fully reopens with its new-look galleries on October 21