Richard III exhibition is planned for next March

Directors of York Museums Trust claim interest in the former King remains huge following the discovery of his remains in a Leicester car park last year, and are looking to pull in more visitors with a refreshed display.

This will concentrate on what life was like in York during his reign, his influence on the city and how it was affected by the War of the Roses which led to his downfall, said a Trust spokesman.

Janet Barnes, chief executive of the trust, told City of York Council's Learning and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee they are planning a display which delves into his background.

Bosses at the museum believe they can “ride on the back of national interest” and offer an alternative to an exhibition in the East Midlands which only touches on the forensic findings of the former ruler.

She said: "Richard III was just a phenomenon and it really did attract a lot of people.

"With the internment of Richard III's remains in Leicester next year there's a big visitor centre and they have a tomb.

"There will be another spike in interest so we are positioning ourselves to do 'Richard and York', and also 'Richard the Man' because the one in Leicester is all about the science and the forensic archaeology, so it is a bit cold and white.

"We are looking at perhaps borrowing some objects and displaying some that relate to the Middleham Jewel and the Middleham Ring, and telling that story of Richard III and York to ride on the back of that national and international interest."

Mrs Barnes was at the meeting to present the York Museums Trust Partnership Delivery Plan and update members on the group's progress.

She revealed the previous Yorkshire Museum exhibition of Richard III's reconstructed head was a great success after the council hosted a year-long programme of events to celebrate the last Yorkist king of England.

The exhibition is expected to open in March and will be refreshed and changed throughout the year.