Pottery collection back on display after 17 years

Thousands of pieces of pottery spanning 200 years of history have gone back on public display.

The Spode Museum reopened on the company's original site after many pieces were hidden from public view when the company fell into administration in 2008.

The collection includes more than 20,000 ceramic pieces and 40,000 engraved copper plates, as well as archive photographs

The museum held its grand opening on Friday after 18 months of regeneration projects to create a new visitor attraction.

Volunteer Jan Roberts told the BBC: "These pieces are Stoke's legacy. The skills can't be replicated. The guilders, the painters, the back-printers. It's our responsibility to say look what we've got - its amazing."

Michael Escolme, museum manager said: "The Spode Museum trust have worked hard over the past decade to secure the long-term future of the museum collection for the people of Stoke-on-Trent and the many thousands of people around the world who know the Spode name to be a marque of the very finest quality.

"We're overjoyed to finally welcome visitors to our new, refurbished space and to keep our museum free for everyone to enjoy."

The museum also provides two modern meeting rooms and two community rooms for local groups and artists to use.

People can also get married in front of the newly renovated Blue Room.

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.