PART of Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Museum has been transformed in preparation for the arrival of Dippy, the famous dinosaur, who is making his first visit to Scotland in the new year.

It is the first time Dippy, the Natural History Museum’s 111-year-old diplodocus cast, has been on show outside London. Before he arrives in Glasgow on January 22, a new dinosaur-themed shop has opened at the museum, called “Mega-store-us”.

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“We are absolutely thrilled that Dippy will be visiting Kelvingrove,” said chair of Glasgow Life, Councillor David McDonald.

“As an area just inside the main entrance is transformed into something resembling a scene from Jurassic Park it’s clear the anticipation is growing. There is a real air of expectation as we eagerly await the arrival of the biggest thing to come to Kelvingrove in an age.”

“Many of our visitors are excited to see the spectacular cast up close and we are keen to use this wonderful opportunity to engage people in the way we think about and protect our natural world.”

Dippy will be carefully reconstructed in the main hall. The full skeleton in its displayed pose is an impressive 21.3 metres long, 4.3m wide and 4.25m high. It will take a specialist team from Natural History Museum five days to bring the creature to life in Glasgow, and will be free for the public to see.

Kelvingrove Museum is the only Scottish destination on a tour that has already seen record-breaking numbers of visitors at three previous venues across the UK.