The museum was badly damaged during last summer's extreme weather but staff decided to focus on a different flood when they invited youngsters in to learn about the Victorian disaster in which 240 people died.

Repairs are still continuing at the museum but it was able to open for drama workshops and arts and craft activities, taking visitors back in time to show them how Sheffield people lived through the flood.

John Hamshere, executive director of Kelham Island Museum, said: "We were delighted to see the general public back here and enjoying themselves at Kelham Island Museum.

"It's 144 years to the month since the Dale Dam Dyke burst, causing the flood that nearly submerged Kelham Island, so we thought it would be a good subject to focus the activities on."

The exhibition was timed to coincide with school holidays and is the first time the museum has been open to the public since the flood damage last year.

With the clean-up operation almost complete, Kelham Island Museum hopes to re-open before the end of the year.

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