COPELAND MP Jamie Reed has called on the government to improve access to museum exhibitions for children living in remote parts of the country.

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Mr Reed called for a ‘Children’s Exhibition’ of “exciting, interesting and inspiring” exhibits to tour rural constituencies like Copeland.

In his letter, the Copeland MP explains that children in his constituency should have the same opportunity as their counterparts in major cities to access exhibitions that inspire them. Currently, children in Whitehaven face a six hour round trip to visit Eureka! – the National Children’s Museum in Halifax, and a five hour round trip to a Museum in Manchester if their parents are able to take them by car and pay for entry.

This news comes after a Parliamentary Question tabled by Jamie Reed revealed that the Government has not taken sufficient action to improve access to inspiring exhibits such as the Natural History Museum’s ‘Dippy the Dinosaur’ or ‘Earthquake Simulator’.

Mr Reed has offered to work with the government and national museums, with input from children, to arrange a meaningful and successful ‘Children’s Exhibition’.

He said: “The government must ensure that all children, regardless of georgraphy, can have the opportunity to access exhibitions that they find exciting, interesting and inspiring.

“Whilst there are some excellent museums in Copeland, it is clear that local children are unable to access many of the exciting exhibits that their counterparts in cities such as London or Manchester can.

“The government must now work with me, with the input of local children, to deliver a meaningful, successful Children’s Exhibition.”

When asked what his favourite museum was Mr Reed said: “I'd say that the Millom museum tells the town's story brilliantly in the same way the Beacon does for Whitehaven but that the British Museum is not only my favourite museum but also one of my favourite places in the world.”