The British Museum has recorded its best spring ever, thanks in part due to the success of the temporary exhibition on Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum, will run until the end of September and has doubled its projected numbers, bringing in 287,000 visitors. It is predicted to be the third most popular exhibition in the 260 years that the museum has been open.

With a reported 1.7m people visiting since 1 April, that represents an increase in visitor numbers of 42 per cent when compared to the same time in 2012.

Pompeii Live - the British Museum's first live screening event was broadcast into 280 cinemas across Britain and seen by 34,793 people and in addition 12,152 school children. The film is also due to be shown in more than 1,000 venues in 51 countries later this summer.

Another big success has been Ice Age Art, which was seen by more than 90,000 people - 133 per cent up on original targets.

The British Museum became the most popular cultural attraction in Britain for the sixth year running in 2011/2012 when it received over 5.575m visitors.