More than 255,000 people have visited Dippy the dinosaur in Glasgow - setting a record for the highest number of visitors on its UK wide tour.

Glasgow is the fourth stop on an eight-city UK wide tour, which has already been to Dorset, Birmingham and Belfast.

In just six weeks 257,246 people have been to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to meet Dippy, the Natural History Museum London’s famous dinosaur.

In January, a specially equipped van transported Dippy, the 21.3-metre long dinosaur cast to Glasgow where the impressive structure was dismantled.

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The 292-bone structure has delighted more visitors in Glasgow than in any other city so far in just six weeks.

Councillor David McDonald, chairman of Glasgow Life, said: "Achieving this coveted record in such a short space of time highlights just how much of an impression Dippy, the Natural History Museum’s iconic dinosaur, has made in Glasgow.

"Dippy on Tour is the most successful temporary exhibition at Kelvingrove Museum since it reopened after refurbishment 13 years ago.

"We’ve welcomed treble the number of visitors during this six week period compared to last year, with the opening weekend being our busiest in more than a decade."

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Lorraine Cornish, head of conservation at the Natural History Museum London, said: "We knew Dippy was going to be a success at Kelvingrove after he received such a warm welcome.

"It is great to hear so many people, especially children, have now had the chance to be inspired by this impressive giant.

"We hope those who have visited have learned something new about the natural world and that this encourages them to connect with nature and have their own natural history adventures."

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