THE World Of James Herriot attraction at Thirsk will reopen on February 1 with new displays and the largest ever single collection of Herriot memorabilia.

The museum about James Alfred Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym of James Herriot, has been undergoing refurbishment and the collection is the first of a range of new exhibition items, which will be unveiled in several stages during 2013.

A new Memorabilia Room has been added and will house all kinds of Herriot-related items, including film stills from both big screen releases, unseen pieces from the TV series and personally-written letters from James to his fans.

There will also be signed photos of many of the actors involved in the films and the TV series, and the original Meccano magazine from 1931 in which a young Alf Wight read an article about becoming a veterinary surgeon which was to lead him to Thirsk.

The new collection follows the 2012 installation of the restored Austin 7 car used in the original TV series All Creatures Great And Small.

Ian Ashton, managing director, said: “James Herriot’s legacy just continues to fascinate people and this new collection will help our visitor interpretation work to become even more interesting and enjoyable.”