SAMURAI swords, spears with shark teeth, poison darts and Zulu shields -- not the possessions of a jungle warrior but just some of the exhibits at Blackburn's Museum.

And council bosses reckon they're on to a winner with its new look... because children have already told them they love it!

Thirty youngsters from St Barnabas and St Paul's CofE, and St Michael's with St John's primary schools in Blackburn were called in to the museum to 'road-test' the new-look facility.

Over the last year, £500,000 -- most of it lottery money -- has been spent on the museum, on Museum Street, Blackburn, creating three new galleries and paying for interactive exhibits designed to make the place more attractive to youngsters.

There will be three new galleries, including the Skill and Labour section, from Arte et Labore, the town's Latin motto, which will contain hundreds of objects from the museum's social history collections.

Instead of using labels, interpretation will be provided by touch-screen interactive displays as well as audio and video facilities. Displays will be arranged around seven characters, including the self-made man, a female cotton worker and a rabble rouser, a 19th century rioter who fought against wage cuts, lock-outs and new technology at local mills.

The characters are each represented by a life-size figure made by Lucy Casson, one of the country's best-known craftspeople, who is based in London.

On the first floor, the Hart Gallery will contain medieval manuscripts and private press books from the Edward Hart collection, named after the son of a wealthy Blackburn industrialist who donated items to Blackburn before he died in 1946.

Highlights include a page from the world famous Gutenburg Bible, one of the oldest in the world, and a copy of the Kelmscott Chaucer, another rare book.

Lavishly decorated Persian manuscripts and Islamic texts are also on display, while the project has also provided the museum with space to show changing displays from its extensive collection of Japanese prints and icon paintings, as well rare coins and medals. These include Blackburn FA Cup medals, the only Victoria Cross won at Dunkirk -- by Marcus Ervine-Andrews, a captain in the East Lancashire Regiment -- and a collection of early Greek coins from the sixth century BC. The centrepiece is a suit of Japanese armour.

On the mezzanine floor of the Hart Gallery visitors will be able to see objects from around the world, brought back by Blackburn travellers in the 19th century.

Muhammed Chihkaoui, ten, of St Barnabas and St Paul's, said: "It has a Samurai's sword, and you can see its been used. It's got red bits on it, which I think is blood."

Annalise Donnelly, ten, was more taken by the local history section. She said: "The exhibits were really good. We saw what women and children did in years gone by.

"I can't believe they had to scrub floors, use mangles and work in the mills. I think we are quite lucky to be living now."

The gallery also contains a classroom space and a computer database which lets people see exhibits not on show.

Mohammed Sheth, nine, of St Michael's with St John's, said: "I like the computers which let you see about all the stuff here. But I really like the big, fat mill owner. It would be great to have all his money."

An official opening will be held tomorrow night before it opens to the general public again on Saturday.

Executive member of leisure and culture at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Kate Hollern, said: "Following extension consultation with residents we're delighted to have a museum that has something for everyone in our multi-cultural borough."