Children and bigger children beware! A dalek will be lurking in the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro on Saturday February 17.

The unusual and rather fearsome visitor will be joined by equally unexpected guests like Buzz Lightyear, Andy Pandy, Looby Loo, Jessie the Cowgirl, Actionman and Barbie for the launch of Must Have Toys' - a new hands-on exhibition that will showcase the toys, characters and games that have been top of Christmas and birthday wish lists since 1900.

More than 150 exhibits will be on display including a meccano set, a magic lantern and a Kewpie doll from the early 1900s, Ludo, Dismal Desmond and a Bluebird landspeed car from the 1920s, a Duncan yo-yo, Russian stacking rings and Chad Valley building blocks from the 1930s, a blackout board game, a Bandalasta tea set and a poodle puppet from the 1940s, Subbuteo, Mr Potatoe Head and a Muffin the Mule puppet from the 1950s, Barbie, Etch-a-Sketch and trolls from the 1960s, Mastermind, a Womble and Play-doh from the 1970s, Darth Vader, a Rubik's Cube and My Little Pony from the 1980s, a Ninetendo Gameboy, a Tamagotchi and five Spice Girl dolls from the 1990s and, from this century, two Harry Potter figures, a Bob the Builder playset and a Pollypocket.

Amanda Tse of Magic Cloak Fancy Dress Hire in Truro offered to supply costumes to museum staff for the event and they lost no time in beating a path to her door.

"There has been no shortage of volunteers for dressing up duties," said Leah Mynett, Marketing Manager. "We're also holding a fancy dress competition for children. There will be two categories - under 5s and 5s and over. The costumes will be judged by Buzz Lightyear and Amanda Tse. Every child entering will get a toy character cake to take away with them."

The exhibition will run until May 21.