BEST-SELLING children's author Terry Deary has been enlisted to attract a younger audience to a refurbished regimental museum.

The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Durham Art Gallery reopens tomorrow, after a £900,000 revamp which took 11 months.

It is the first major facelift in the 32-year history of the museum, which is set in parkland near County Hall, at Aykley Heads, Durham City.

The transformation followed a widespread market research study to find what people liked and disliked about the museum, and what put potential customers off attending.

Museum marketing manager Carol Smith said that in the eyes of non-military enthusiasts, the DLI was considered dull.

Award-winning museum designer Gareth Hoskins Architects, of Glasgow, was hired to create "a sense of theatre" and to add more fun to a visit, without detracting from the main theme, the 240-year history and traditions of the regiment, nicknamed the Faithful Durhams.

Among the features which will go down well with younger visitors is the Dreadful Dug-Out, on a First World War trench theme, based on the award-winning Horrible Histories children's series penned by County Durham author Terry Deary.

It meant a return to the museum for the former actor and drama teacher, who has written 116 children's books, topping the sales lists in 29 countries.

As art development manager to Durham County Council, he spent two years based part of the time at the DLI before going full-time as an author in 1994.

He said he based a lot of the Horrible Histories on information gleaned at the museum.

The writer, who lives in Burnhope, near Durham, is a convert of the new-look museum.

He said: "It is much more user friendly. It was always dignified, and still is, but I'm amazed at the transformation that's been achieved for under £1m."

The DLI Museum reopens with a gala day tomorrow, from 10am to 5pm, with admission £2.50 and £1.25, and last entry at 4.30pm