A new blockbuster exhibition is spinning its way to Whitehaven.

The Mechanicals – an interactive exhibition of moving objects and cog-powered automata – opens at The Beacon this weekend.

It will give visitors the chance to manipulate a host of buttons, cogs and pulleys as they discover the type of mechanisms that power a lot of today's machinery.

Alan Irwin, development manager at The Beacon, said: "I'm really excited about this exhibition as there are lots of fun things to try within it.

"Some of the moving objects are actually depicting really funny little scenes, but they are also informative as to how gears and mechanisms actually work."

The Mechanicals runs from March 25 to May 2.

Also at The Beacon, until April 2, is Looking in Wonderland – a collection of etched drawings from John Tenniel, who worked alongside Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland .

Mr Irwin added: "Whether you've read the book or not, you'll recognise the characters from Alice in Wonderland , and here they are as they were very first conceived.

"What's more, we have an interactive play gallery that brings these drawings to life in a new way."

And heading to The Beacon next month is an exhibition Hero or Villain? Mythbusting Piracy , which stems from a partnership with the National Maritime Museum and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It features the bust of a Barbary Pirate, as well as telling the story of John Paul Jones, a naval captain turned privateer, who once led a naval attack on Whitehaven. Running from April 8 to July 2, it also includes interactive activities and artwork from local schoolchildren.

For more information, call the museum on 01946 592302 or visit www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk.