Around 120 children aged between six and seven were invited from Gladstone Road Infants School to test drive the new facilities.

The youngsters were divided into groups and had the chance to look at exhibits and use interactive videos to create a dinosaur-filled landscape.

Year 2 teacher Kate Boddy said: “All the children thoroughly enjoyed it. They loved the Dinosaur Coast activities and the skeleton of Gristhorpe Man caused quite a stir – they were all still talking about it when we got back to school.

“I asked my class if they would go back to the Rotunda with their parents and they all said yes.”

Andie Hawkes, spokesperson for the Rotunda, said: “The pupils had a fantastic time. They asked lots of questions and were really enthusiastic.

“It was also very useful for us to see how children would use the museum and has given us some excellent feedback.”

The museum reopens to the public on Saturday following its two-year refurbishment costing £4.4 million. It will be renamed The Rotunda – The William Smith Museum of Geology.