ROCKING horses of all shapes and sizes are bringing in visitors to an East Yorkshire village.

The well-known Rocking Horse Shop at Fangfoss, near Pocklington, which makes and restores rocking horses, has proved a hit with young and old.

From today, visitors will be able to appreciate rare and antique horses in the shop's new museum.

The museum, which houses over 100 horses, was due to be officially opened at noon by ITN newsreader Nicholas Owen.

Anthony Dew, from the Rocking Horse Shop, said they had been putting together the museum's collection of horses for 20 years.

He said: "We have tried to gather together examples of different styles and types of rocking horse. We are always on the look-out for new things."

The collection includes a horse so small it was originally sold in a matchbox and an 8ft rocking horse large enough to seat three children at once.

Mr Dew said the museum's collection started when people began to give the shop horses they no longer had room for in their homes.

"A lot of the people who come to the museum find it really interesting.

"Rocking horses are not just wooden, some are metal or plastic and some are covered in fur," he said.

Visitors have been able to view the rare horses for several years, but now the shop has given the museum a bigger space, allowing them to be displayed more effectively.

The launch of the new museum took place as part of Fang-Fest, a two-day celebration of rural crafts which takes place in the village.

Mr Dew has also written a book about making rocking horses called The Complete Rocking Horse Maker, which will be published in October.

Updated: 09:45 Saturday, September 06, 2003