The Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum in Great Ayton opened its doors last Wednesday to Rishi Sunak, the new prospective parliamentary candidate for Richmond. Last year over eight thousand visitors – a record number - from all over the world visited the museum and the trustees were happy to show the museum off to the prospective candidate.

He was given a guided tour of the museum by Irene Saunders, who has been a volunteer for over thirty years and by Liz Scovell, a volunteer and Trustee. Mr Sunak said: “The museum is a credit to the village and our area to showcase the education of such an important figure in history, as well as showing the history of the village."

The 34-year-old described The Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum in Great Ayton, as "a valuable resource for people of all ages". He added: “It is a tribute to the local community that the museum can be run entirely by volunteers."

The museum will re- open in April and anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should contact Yvonne Bentley on 01642 722648 or Gary Readman on 01642 723605.