University of Sheffield is to open a secret natural history museum showcasing weird and wonderful artefacts relating to animal species.

The teaching museum was created by the university's first professor of biology, Alfred Denny in 1905 and artefacts on display include the enormous skull of an extinct man-sized eagle - known as the Terror Bird.

TV bird expert and animal behaviour specialist professor Tim Birkhead opened the doors of the little-known museum to the public for the first time in more than a century for a series of guided tours during a festival last September.

Following strong public interest, Birkhead secured funding to open the museum to the public on the first Saturday of every month.

Exhibitions feature a half porpoise, fossilised tiny flying dinosaurs, and Sun Spiders with poisonous jaws.

Professor Birkhead said: "The public's enthusiasm for the museum has been inspirational. We're thrilled to be able to open up the museum for everyone."

We're so pleased that the public are eager to learn more about the amazing world of nature and there's no better place to start than here at the Alfred Denny Museum."