An exhibition of work from one of the world's most important photographic collections has attracted a record number of visitors to Bradford.

A taste of the world-famous Royal Photographic Society material went on display at the city's National Museum of Photography, Film and Television at the end of January.

By the time the exhibition - called Unknown Pleasures - closed on March 31, it had attracted almost 12,000 visitors, one of the highest numbers ever recorded for a photographic exhibition at the museum.

"The exhibition attracted people to Bradford from all over the world, including Santa Barbara in California and Kuala Lumpur.

"We also got lots of Royal Photographic Society members travelling from all over the UK and the critical reception was fantastic," said a spokesman for the museum.

The display, which marked the 150th anniversary of the Royal Photographic Society, included examples of work by significant photographers such as William Henry Fox Talbot, Lewis Carroll, Alvin Langdon Coburn, one of the earliest X-ray images, and Larry Burrows' graphic record of the Vietnam War.

However, the 300 items featured were a mere fraction of the full Royal Photographic Society collection, which spans 270,000 photos, 10,000 pieces of camera equipment and 30,000 books dating from 1850 to 1950 and which will move to the museum in its entirety later this year. It was a huge coup for the museum when it announced last year that it was to be the new home for world-renowned collection.

It has raised a substantial amount of cash to fund the move and also received a £260,000 Government grant to specially convert one of its galleries to house the work.

"The collection will form the basis of a rolling programme of exhibitions which means people will be able to access and see photographs and photographic works from the 1840s and 1850s in a new environment which has been purpose built for showing them," the spokesman said.

"This is a coup for the museum and it's great for the city."