Eight locations chosen for Dippy the dinosaur's nationwide tour

Dippy the diplodocus has been dazzling visitors at the Natural History Museum for decades - and now, details of his tour across the UK have been announced.

It is going to take more than a year for conservators to prepare the reconstructed dinosaur for his journey to eight carefully selected venues nationwide.

The 70ft plaster-cast sauropod replica will first visit the Dorset County Museum - with its academics saying they are "excited" to welcome Dippy to the "birthplace of palaeontology" when he arrives in February 2018.

Birmingham Museum will be next to host the diplodocus, followed by Ulster Museum, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, the Great North Museum in Newcastle, the National Assembly of Wales, Number One Riverside in Rochdale and Norwich Cathedral.

Dippy is going to spend at least four to six months in each of the eight locations, and a team of experts will be tasked with disassembling and reconstructing him at every stop.

It's estimated that 1.5 million people will have seen Dippy by the time his tour ends in late 2020, and the Natural History Museum has confirmed that the exhibit will be free to view in all of the chosen venues.

Image Caption:Dippy is being replaced by a blue whale in Hintze hall next year

Museum director Sir Michael Dixon added: "We wanted Dippy to visit unusual locations so he can draw in people that may not traditionally visit a museum.

"Making iconic items accessible to as many people as possible is at the heart of what museums give to the nation."

Dippy was cast from original fossil bones discovered in the US in 1898, and arrived at London's Natural History Museum in 1905.

He was moved to the attraction's vast Hintze hall in 1979, but he is going to be retired and replaced with the real skeleton of a blue whale from January 2017.

The Garfield Weston Foundation is partially funding Dippy's travels.

Director Philippa Charles said: "Generations of children have been awestruck by Dippy's spectacular presence at the heart of the Natural History Museum and we hope he continues to inspire the nation to rediscover nature as he works his way around the UK."

Eight locations chosen for Dippy the dinosaur's nationwide tour

Dippy the diplodocus has been dazzling visitors at the Natural History Museum for decades - and now, details of his tour across the UK have been announced.

It is going to take more than a year for conservators to prepare the reconstructed dinosaur for his journey to eight carefully selected venues nationwide.

The 70ft plaster-cast sauropod replica will first visit the Dorset County Museum - with its academics saying they are "excited" to welcome Dippy to the "birthplace of palaeontology" when he arrives in February 2018.

Birmingham Museum will be next to host the diplodocus, followed by Ulster Museum, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, the Great North Museum in Newcastle, the National Assembly of Wales, Number One Riverside in Rochdale and Norwich Cathedral.

Dippy is going to spend at least four to six months in each of the eight locations, and a team of experts will be tasked with disassembling and reconstructing him at every stop.

It's estimated that 1.5 million people will have seen Dippy by the time his tour ends in late 2020, and the Natural History Museum has confirmed that the exhibit will be free to view in all of the chosen venues.

Image Caption:Dippy is being replaced by a blue whale in Hintze hall next year

Museum director Sir Michael Dixon added: "We wanted Dippy to visit unusual locations so he can draw in people that may not traditionally visit a museum.

"Making iconic items accessible to as many people as possible is at the heart of what museums give to the nation."

Dippy was cast from original fossil bones discovered in the US in 1898, and arrived at London's Natural History Museum in 1905.

He was moved to the attraction's vast Hintze hall in 1979, but he is going to be retired and replaced with the real skeleton of a blue whale from January 2017.

The Garfield Weston Foundation is partially funding Dippy's travels.

Director Philippa Charles said: "Generations of children have been awestruck by Dippy's spectacular presence at the heart of the Natural History Museum and we hope he continues to inspire the nation to rediscover nature as he works his way around the UK."

Eight locations chosen for Dippy the dinosaur's nationwide tour

Dippy the diplodocus has been dazzling visitors at the Natural History Museum for decades - and now, details of his tour across the UK have been announced.

It is going to take more than a year for conservators to prepare the reconstructed dinosaur for his journey to eight carefully selected venues nationwide.

The 70ft plaster-cast sauropod replica will first visit the Dorset County Museum - with its academics saying they are "excited" to welcome Dippy to the "birthplace of palaeontology" when he arrives in February 2018.

Birmingham Museum will be next to host the diplodocus, followed by Ulster Museum, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, the Great North Museum in Newcastle, the National Assembly of Wales, Number One Riverside in Rochdale and Norwich Cathedral.

Dippy is going to spend at least four to six months in each of the eight locations, and a team of experts will be tasked with disassembling and reconstructing him at every stop.

It's estimated that 1.5 million people will have seen Dippy by the time his tour ends in late 2020, and the Natural History Museum has confirmed that the exhibit will be free to view in all of the chosen venues.

Image Caption:Dippy is being replaced by a blue whale in Hintze hall next year

Museum director Sir Michael Dixon added: "We wanted Dippy to visit unusual locations so he can draw in people that may not traditionally visit a museum.

"Making iconic items accessible to as many people as possible is at the heart of what museums give to the nation."

Dippy was cast from original fossil bones discovered in the US in 1898, and arrived at London's Natural History Museum in 1905.

He was moved to the attraction's vast Hintze hall in 1979, but he is going to be retired and replaced with the real skeleton of a blue whale from January 2017.

The Garfield Weston Foundation is partially funding Dippy's travels.

Director Philippa Charles said: "Generations of children have been awestruck by Dippy's spectacular presence at the heart of the Natural History Museum and we hope he continues to inspire the nation to rediscover nature as he works his way around the UK."

Eight locations chosen for Dippy the dinosaur's nationwide tour

Dippy the diplodocus has been dazzling visitors at the Natural History Museum for decades - and now, details of his tour across the UK have been announced.

It is going to take more than a year for conservators to prepare the reconstructed dinosaur for his journey to eight carefully selected venues nationwide.

The 70ft plaster-cast sauropod replica will first visit the Dorset County Museum - with its academics saying they are "excited" to welcome Dippy to the "birthplace of palaeontology" when he arrives in February 2018.

Birmingham Museum will be next to host the diplodocus, followed by Ulster Museum, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, the Great North Museum in Newcastle, the National Assembly of Wales, Number One Riverside in Rochdale and Norwich Cathedral.

Dippy is going to spend at least four to six months in each of the eight locations, and a team of experts will be tasked with disassembling and reconstructing him at every stop.

It's estimated that 1.5 million people will have seen Dippy by the time his tour ends in late 2020, and the Natural History Museum has confirmed that the exhibit will be free to view in all of the chosen venues.

Image Caption:Dippy is being replaced by a blue whale in Hintze hall next year

Museum director Sir Michael Dixon added: "We wanted Dippy to visit unusual locations so he can draw in people that may not traditionally visit a museum.

"Making iconic items accessible to as many people as possible is at the heart of what museums give to the nation."

Dippy was cast from original fossil bones discovered in the US in 1898, and arrived at London's Natural History Museum in 1905.

He was moved to the attraction's vast Hintze hall in 1979, but he is going to be retired and replaced with the real skeleton of a blue whale from January 2017.

The Garfield Weston Foundation is partially funding Dippy's travels.

Director Philippa Charles said: "Generations of children have been awestruck by Dippy's spectacular presence at the heart of the Natural History Museum and we hope he continues to inspire the nation to rediscover nature as he works his way around the UK."

Eight locations chosen for Dippy the dinosaur's nationwide tour

Dippy the diplodocus has been dazzling visitors at the Natural History Museum for decades - and now, details of his tour across the UK have been announced.

It is going to take more than a year for conservators to prepare the reconstructed dinosaur for his journey to eight carefully selected venues nationwide.

The 70ft plaster-cast sauropod replica will first visit the Dorset County Museum - with its academics saying they are "excited" to welcome Dippy to the "birthplace of palaeontology" when he arrives in February 2018.

Birmingham Museum will be next to host the diplodocus, followed by Ulster Museum, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, the Great North Museum in Newcastle, the National Assembly of Wales, Number One Riverside in Rochdale and Norwich Cathedral.

Dippy is going to spend at least four to six months in each of the eight locations, and a team of experts will be tasked with disassembling and reconstructing him at every stop.

It's estimated that 1.5 million people will have seen Dippy by the time his tour ends in late 2020, and the Natural History Museum has confirmed that the exhibit will be free to view in all of the chosen venues.

Image Caption:Dippy is being replaced by a blue whale in Hintze hall next year

Museum director Sir Michael Dixon added: "We wanted Dippy to visit unusual locations so he can draw in people that may not traditionally visit a museum.

"Making iconic items accessible to as many people as possible is at the heart of what museums give to the nation."

Dippy was cast from original fossil bones discovered in the US in 1898, and arrived at London's Natural History Museum in 1905.

He was moved to the attraction's vast Hintze hall in 1979, but he is going to be retired and replaced with the real skeleton of a blue whale from January 2017.

The Garfield Weston Foundation is partially funding Dippy's travels.

Director Philippa Charles said: "Generations of children have been awestruck by Dippy's spectacular presence at the heart of the Natural History Museum and we hope he continues to inspire the nation to rediscover nature as he works his way around the UK."

Eight locations chosen for Dippy the dinosaur's nationwide tour

Dippy the diplodocus has been dazzling visitors at the Natural History Museum for decades - and now, details of his tour across the UK have been announced.

It is going to take more than a year for conservators to prepare the reconstructed dinosaur for his journey to eight carefully selected venues nationwide.

The 70ft plaster-cast sauropod replica will first visit the Dorset County Museum - with its academics saying they are "excited" to welcome Dippy to the "birthplace of palaeontology" when he arrives in February 2018.

Birmingham Museum will be next to host the diplodocus, followed by Ulster Museum, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, the Great North Museum in Newcastle, the National Assembly of Wales, Number One Riverside in Rochdale and Norwich Cathedral.

Dippy is going to spend at least four to six months in each of the eight locations, and a team of experts will be tasked with disassembling and reconstructing him at every stop.

It's estimated that 1.5 million people will have seen Dippy by the time his tour ends in late 2020, and the Natural History Museum has confirmed that the exhibit will be free to view in all of the chosen venues.

Image Caption:Dippy is being replaced by a blue whale in Hintze hall next year

Museum director Sir Michael Dixon added: "We wanted Dippy to visit unusual locations so he can draw in people that may not traditionally visit a museum.

"Making iconic items accessible to as many people as possible is at the heart of what museums give to the nation."

Dippy was cast from original fossil bones discovered in the US in 1898, and arrived at London's Natural History Museum in 1905.

He was moved to the attraction's vast Hintze hall in 1979, but he is going to be retired and replaced with the real skeleton of a blue whale from January 2017.

The Garfield Weston Foundation is partially funding Dippy's travels.

Director Philippa Charles said: "Generations of children have been awestruck by Dippy's spectacular presence at the heart of the Natural History Museum and we hope he continues to inspire the nation to rediscover nature as he works his way around the UK."

Up to 10,000 prison officers walk out over health and safety fears

Up to 10,000 prison officers are striking today over health and safety concerns.

A Prison Officers Association spokesman said: "The POA has consistently raised the volatile and dangerous state of prisons as chronic staff shortages and impoverished regimes has resulted in staff no longer being safe, a lack of discipline and prisoners taking control of areas.

"The continued surge in violence and unprecedented levels of suicide and acts of self-harm, coupled with the recent murder and escapes, demonstrate that the service is in meltdown."

But the Ministry of Justice said the industrial action was "unlawful" - and that it would be taking the matter to court.

Official figures show that in the year to June, the number of attacks on staff rose by 43% to 5,954, with 697 of them recorded as serious.

The POA said it had directed all of its members to effectively go on strike for a day after talks with the Government broke down.

Those taking part in Tuesday's protest will stop working and provide emergency cover only.

Video:Jail 'riot' is filmed by inmates

The action comes weeks after Justice Secretary Liz Truss met with the POA to discuss safety in jails.

Her plans for reform include putting an extra 2,500 guards in prisons and introducing no fly zones over jails so that drones cannot drop contraband.

She also wants maths and English tests for offenders so their improvement can be monitored and 300 more police dogs to detect drugs.

However, high-profile incidents including the stabbing to death of a prisonerat Pentonville in north London last month and a riot at HMP Bedford which reportedly saw 200 inmates go on the rampage has left some believing the service is in crisis.

In the last week, five dangerous convicts have escaped.

Two from Pentonville have since been captured - but three deemed a "risk to the public" remain on the run from HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire.

A MoJ spokesman said: "There is no justification for this action.

"We have been engaged in constructive talks with the POA over the last two weeks and have provided a comprehensive response to a range of health and safety concerns."

He added: "We have well-established contingencies in place to manage prisons and keep the public safe, but we are clear that this constitutes unlawful industrial action, and will seek remedy in the courts."