IF you've ever fancied galloping around a gallery or going mad in a museum, then Herefordshire is the place for you during May.

Herefordshire Museums and Galleries are marking the Millennium in style with a whole month of special exhibitions and events.

The theme for the exhibitions, which reflect the fact that museums look forward to the future as well as backwards into the past is 'The past inspires the future'.

The Old House in Hereford sweeps away the last 300 years with an eye-opening exhibition comparing old and new designs. It just goes to show that 'there's nothing new under the sun'.

"We've got lots of modern objects which are based on old designs displayed alongside their 17th century predecessors, and it's amazing how little difference there is with some of them," said Siriol Collins, Herefordshire Council's education and events officer for Heritage Services.

'Looking back to the future' is the name of an exhibition currently on view at Hereford's Churchill House Museum, which includes displays of costumes and objects alongside modern craft works and art works that have been inspired by them.

And at Hereford Museum 'Art in Archaeology' explores art and craft inspired by archaeological objects found around the county.

"There is literally something for everyone. We've got adult learners week events later on this month along with summer half-term holiday activities on May 30 and 31," she added.

These include 'Art in Archaeology: Printing' at Hereford Museum on Tuesday, May 30, and 'Making Mosaics and Printing' at the Heritage Centre in Ross-on-Wye.

Anyone wanting more details about these and any of the other events taking place should call into the county's libraries and museums and either ask a member of staff or pick up a leaflet.