Dalek invasion hits Hartlepool museum

Daleks invaded a Hartlepool Museum for a day of sci-fi fun with visitors.
Celebrating winning best tourism award with a Dr Who day complete with DaleksCelebrating winning best tourism award with a Dr Who day complete with Daleks
Celebrating winning best tourism award with a Dr Who day complete with Daleks

People young and old to Heugh Gun Battery were greeted with the arch enemy of Dr Who as they walked through the door of the venue in Moor Terrace.

Drs throughout the generations were also on hand to help keep visitors safe as the intergalatic creatures moved around the site entertaining people with their witty sense of humour.

Graeme Barker and his son Travis, 8, enjoying the Dr Who day at the museum.Graeme Barker and his son Travis, 8, enjoying the Dr Who day at the museum.
Graeme Barker and his son Travis, 8, enjoying the Dr Who day at the museum.
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Graeme Barker, 35, from Hartlepool was at the event with his eight-year-old son Travis. The Holy Trinity primary school pupil had made his own Dalek costume with the help of his dad to wear to the event.

Mr Barker said: “He’s been a Doctor Who fan for a while now, but this past year he has really got into it. It took us four and a half days to make the outfit, and he just wanted to wear it to the event. We are both having a great time.”

The event was organised as a way of drawing more people into the msueum which is dedicated to World War One.

Diane Stephens manager of Heugh Gun Battery said: “It’s been a brilliant day, we have had the weather and there were lots of people who came through our doors first thing when we opened.

Graeme Barker and his son Travis, 8, enjoying the Dr Who day at the museum.Graeme Barker and his son Travis, 8, enjoying the Dr Who day at the museum.
Graeme Barker and his son Travis, 8, enjoying the Dr Who day at the museum.
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“The costumes are brilliant, and it was great to see a young boy coming in, in his homemade Dalek costume and people were having picturs taken with the tardis.

“A lot of people won’t come to a museum, so what we are trying to do to boost numbers is to have lots of events here to try and attract a wider range of people.”

Event organiser Martin Shipley said: “I think the evebnt has certainly ticked the box for the Heugh Gun Battery, in terms of brining new people into the museum. Everyone seems to have enjoyed themsleves, with some families visiting for the first time. They seemed to have enjoyed the Dalek element of it.”

Heugh Gun Battery is divided into three levels with the underground magazines, the parade ground and main museum with the Observation Point tower.

For more details and opening times visit www.heughbattery.com/