As one of the county’s leading museums celebrates a huge hike in visitor numbers the search is on for exciting exhibits for its next blockbuster show.

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Exhibition co-ordinator Alanna Baker is aiming to put Great Yarmouth’s Time and Tide Museum at the centre of national celebrations to mark 250 years of circus in this country.

She travelled to the Univeristy of Sheffield this week to mine the National Fairground and Circus Archives for circus gold - but lost out in a “bidding war” with Newcastle for a pair of clown shoes.

The show, in the upstairs gallery rooms, is planned for this autumn/winter into spring of 2019.

It comes as new figures show the museum had one of its best years last year, fuelled in part by the success of its Titanic Honour and Glory exhibition.

Eastern Daily Press: A new Titanic exhibition is now on display at the Time and Tide museum.PHOTO: Nick ButcherA new Titanic exhibition is now on display at the Time and Tide museum.PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

The display, dedicated to the legacy of the White Star Line and the iconic ship, enjoyed a “hugely successful” six month run lifting visitor numbers by 30pc since April and bringing in an extra 3,700 people across July and August.

It meant admissions income was up 57pc overall and 100pc during August with feedback being “hugely positive.”

The museum had another record-breaking year for school visits, welcoming 10,299 young people last year, the majority taking part in interactive workshops.

And its activity days were also well supported with 42pc more visitors at the science day, and 45pc more at the sea monsters day.

Eastern Daily Press: A new Titanic exhibition is now on display at the Time and Tide museum.PHOTO: Nick ButcherA new Titanic exhibition is now on display at the Time and Tide museum.PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

The Titanic day out was the best attended single event with 631 people taking part.

Ms Baker said the museum was hoping to catch the wave of excitement generated by the Titanic exhibition and create another memorable experience with its circus themed winter event.

Although the plans were in their early stages with the look and the feel of the exhibition yet to be decided, she was collaborating with Sheffield and Newcastle to tell the circus story as well as with the Hippodrome Circus close to home.

“We are keen to tell both the national story tracking back to the origins of circus and looking more closely at local history,” she added.

Eastern Daily Press: A new Titanic exhibition is now on display at the Time and Tide museum.PHOTO: Nick ButcherA new Titanic exhibition is now on display at the Time and Tide museum.PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: A new Titanic exhibition is now on display at the Time and Tide museum.Porcelain from the White Star Line.PHOTO: Nick ButcherA new Titanic exhibition is now on display at the Time and Tide museum.Porcelain from the White Star Line.PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)