Visitors to a North-East museum will have their last chance to see the Treasures of the Sea exhibition this week.

The exhibition at the Hancock Museum, in Newcastle, which closes on Sunday, explores the wonders of the deep blue sea and is part of the SeaBritain North East programme of events.

Treasures of the Sea features a variety of animal life including live reef fish, whale bones, shells and corals as well as a range of curiosities.

Visitors will also be able to learn some fascinating fishy facts. They can get a close-up view of a puffer fish and learn about its unusual defensive mechanism.

With elastic skin and no ribs, puffer fish inflate their bodies with water until they become spherical and the skin spines become erect - a potentially terrifying sight for any would-be predators

Children will be able to see the most common species of clown fish which is bright orange with white stripes and has been made famous by children's favourite animated character Nemo.

The exhibition has been funded as part of the International Festival of Rivers and the Sea - part of a £12m series of festivals and events across the North-East.

The SeaBritain North East programme has been co-ordinated by The North East Regional Museums Hub, a partnership between Tyne and Wear Museums, Beamish: the North of England Open Air Museum, the Bowes Museum, at Barnard Castle, Hartlepool Museums and Nemlac (the North East Museums, Libraries and Archives Council).

Admission is free to the museum, which is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm and Sunday, 2pm to 5pm.