The mystery of the spinning Egyptian statue has sent visitor numbers soaring at the Manchester Museum.

The M.E.N. reported on Saturday how the 10-inch tall figure had spooked museum chiefs after it was filmed inexplicably rotating in its display cabinet.

Time-lapse video clearly showed the statue, which dates back to 1,800 BC, turning round inside the locked cabinet – without being touched by anyone.

Our story went global with international TV crews descending on the Oxford Road site to film the statue for themselves.

The news was also picked up by news websites in countries around the world - including in Egypt – and the museum has been inundated with calls from paranormal investigators.

Museum chiefs also said it was the busiest Monday on record as hundreds of extra visitors turned up yesterday, with most asking to see the statue.

Scientists, including TV presenter Professor Brian Cox, said they believed the vibrations caused by the feet of passers-by may have caused the statue to rotate.

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But others have speculated the statue may be rotating because of a ‘Curse of the Pharaohs’.

The statue of Neb-Senu was retrieved from a Mummy's tomb and handed to the museum 80 years ago – but it has only recently been spotted spinning.

Tim Manley, head of marketing and communications at the museum, said: “We’re sure there’s a logical explanation, we’re just not quite sure what it is yet.” He added: “There’s been a definite spike in visitors. I think it’s been the busiest Monday I’ve ever seen. We usually get around 500 on a Monday during term time, but it was hundreds more today.” Among the visitors was Ciaran Milner, 21, a final year History and Sociology student who admitted that he had never previously visited the museum.

He said: “I’ve always been interested in history, but I’d never heard of a spinning artefact. I think I’d back Brian Cox’s theory over spirits or aliens though.”