SOME of the Wroughton Science Museum's most unusual exhibits are set to appear on TV.

ERNIE-1, the first ever computer to generate premium bond numbers, and a former Fleet Street printing press will feature in an episode of The People's Museum, a daytime BBC2 series which began last week, on Thursday (1pm).

The programme, presented by Paul Martin of antiques show Flog It! fame, is being broadcast as part of Museums and Galleries Month and each episode looks at the different hidden treasures from museums across the country.

The reporters nominate their favourite artefacts the items that have either captured their imaginations or changed our world in some way.

But it is the public who have the final say. They can vote for an overall winner and place their favourite top 20 items into The People's Museum.

Along with ERNIE-1, the Wroughton episode - to be screened this week features the Wood Press the last surviving Fleet Street printing press and the bright orange Tucker Sno-Cat which was used by Sir Vivien Fuchs' trans-Antarctic expedition of the late 1950s.

Peter Turvey, head of Knowledge Management at the Science Museum, said: "We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to tell the public about some of our star objects in store here at Wroughton."

Museum managers are already getting ready for the museum's next TV appearance.

Earlier this year, they applied to the Big Lottery Fund for a £48m lottery grant which they say will help to gold plate' their plans to re-develop the entire Science Museum site and turn it into the National Collections Centre a tourist attraction of national importance.

Plans for that scheme are set to go in front of the Swindon Council's planning committee this week but the decision about whether the Science Museum will get the grant will go to a television vote next summer but it won't be easy, as the scheme will be competing with other projects vying for the cash.