Terry Ruane and family visit a child-friendly and interactive museum.

EUREKA! is a museum with a difference. No signs asking you not to touch the exhibits. Here, you can pick it up, play with it or take it apart. The museum in Halifax has more than 400 must-touch, larger-than-life exhibits. It stimulates the imagination of every visitor.

The first area we visited was all about communication, with giant phones which teach you to say "Hello" in various languages, and a boat from which you can send messages using flags.

The TV studio is a must. Samantha read the news, gave tomorrow's weather forecast and also operated the camera to the overhead TV monitors. Children and adults alike were all waiting in the wings for their turn in front of the camera, like the next generation of Trevor McDonald and Michael Fish.

Samantha's next venture was desktop publishing. Her photo was taken and then appeared on the front page of a newspaper. Fax machines, satellite phones, computers... young children were sending messages using technology that was virtually unheard of when I was six.

Then the children had a chance to learn how various parts of the body and the senses work, using giant-sized exhibits.

Living and Working Together is a recreated town square, allowing the children to try everyday jobs, such as postal worker, mechanic or shop assistant. Samantha had a great time deciding which career path to go down. My favourite was the bank, where you could try your hand at a spot of safe cracking and banknote printing.

The Global Garden was the last area to see, allowing you to move from your natural environment to faraway places around the world, from the polar regions to the tropical rain-forests.

Children are also encouraged to come up with their own ideas on how to help the environment.

After nearly five hours, it was time to leave probably the most entertaining museum I have ever visited. A word of praise must also go to all the friendly and helpful staff.

Fact file

Eureka! Discovery Road, Halifax, HX1 2NE. Follow M62 then take exit 24 and follow signs for Eureka.

Admission, £5.95 for adults and children, family ticket £27.50 under 3s are free.

Opening times are 10am to 5pm all year round, closed December 24-26.

For more information call Eureka on 01422 330069 or see www.eureka.org.uk

Updated: 13:42 Saturday, October 18, 2003