PEOPLE are coming from far and wide for a glimpse of Suffolk's royal past.The new £5 million exhibition centre at Sutton Hoo is proving as popular as the National Trust believed it would – with more than 5,000 visitors through its doors in the first five days.

PEOPLE are coming from far and wide for a glimpse of Suffolk's royal past.

The new £5 million exhibition centre at Sutton Hoo is proving as popular as the National Trust believed it would – with more than 5,000 visitors through its doors in the first five days.

Kate Sussams, property manager at Sutton Hoo, said people from all over the country had visited the centre.

"People have been spending a lot of time in the exhibition and really seemed to be taking it in," she said.

"We had people driving overnight from Newcastle and Birmingham just to see it. Lots of local people also turned up for a peek.

"It was hard work but really worth it. We thought it would be the first days when we would see the problems but there really hasn't been any,"

The centre at the Saxon burial site features treasure excavated from the grave of a warrior prince who was buried close to the famous ship, the resting place of seventh century East Anglian ruler, King Raedwald.