Thousands of people will be able to visit Bradford Peace Museum without ever leaving the comfort of their own homes thanks to a University project.

An ambitious hi-tech scheme, believed to be the first of its type in the North, will see the museum develop an interactive website boasting information and displays while people tell of their experiences at the same time.

The breakthrough comes as the museum gears itself up for the development of a new international centre on the site of the former Alexandra Hotel in the city's West End.

Museum spokesman Peter Nias said: "We have a good existing website but we want to extend it a lot further.

"We will bring the experience alive and create a virtual museum by linking video pictures and sound."

The museum also plans a regular e-mail story board where people can send their thoughts, reflections and ideas of peace.

Some will be shown regularly on the website.

Mr Nias said: "They may include poems, stories, events and comments on local and world happenings."

The project is being undertaken by students from Bradford University's Electronic Imaging and Media Communications Department and is set to be completed within months.

Adam Hibbert, Colin Carter, Alan Smith and Tracey Miller will be researching and implementing the virtual museum.

The site of the former Alexandra Hotel is being put on the market for a redevelopment scheme which would include an international peace centre and would become a permanent home for the Peace Museum and the Centre for Conflict Resolution which are both based at the University's Department of Peace Studies.

The development may also include a hotel and leisure element. The site was once earmarked for a North of England Imperial War Museum but the proposal fell through.

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