THE museum dedicated to Christian scholar the Venerable Bede has unveiled a £4m development.

Bede's World, at Jarrow, South Tyneside, has undergone a major revamp that includes a new exhibition, The Age of Bede, that records his achievements 1,300 years ago, including his writing of the history of the English people.

The display brings to life the age in which Bede lived and explains why his achievements are still important today. The museum also features an Anglo Saxon farm.

The museum redevelopment was launched when 1,300 balloons were released by County Durham author Terry Deary, famous for his popular children's books, Horrible Histories.

The development was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and the now-defunct Tyne and Wear Development Corporation.