Image: The new £6.9m Novium museum is now open

Author Kate Mosse has helped celebrate the official opening of The Novium - a new £6.9m museum developed around the remains of a Roman bath house in Chichester, West Sussex.

An official launch event was held on 4 July, before the heritage attraction was unveiled to the public on 8 July. The building has been designed by Keith Williams Architects.

The Novium - delivered by Vinci Construction UK and project managed by Robinson Low Francis - is named after the city's former Roman name of Noviomagnus Regni.

Public galleries are located across three floors at the attraction, which is built on piles rather than foundations in order to preserve the archaeology located below the building.

Event Communications worked on the design of the exhibits, with the main fit-out contract awarded to The Hub. Appleyards also worked on the development of The Novium.

The museum explores the heritage of the area over 500,000 years and contains in excess of 150,000 artefacts - both on display and in store - such as the Chilgrove Mosaic.

Chichester District Council's Myles Cullen said: "We are sure The Novium will be enjoyed not just by local people and schools but also visitors from far and wide."

Details: www.thenovium.org