Astronaut Tim Peake's space capsule has found a new home in the UK.

The tiny Soyuz TMA-19M that launched Major Peake into orbit and returned him to Earth is to go on public display at London's Science Museum early next year.

Refurbished but still singed by the heat of re-entry, the capsule will join other exhibits charting the history of space exploration.

Among them is the suit worn by the first Briton in space, Helen Sharman, during her mission to the Mir space station in 1991.

The museum bought the Soyuz from its Russian manufacturer, Energia, for an undisclosed fee.

Major Peake, who was raised in Westbourne near Chichester, is said to be "absolutely delighted".

He told BBC News: "Hopefully it may act as an inspiration for the next generation of scientists and engineers.

"Flying into space is a huge privilege but it also comes with risk and one of the highest risk areas are launch into space and re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

"The Soyuz spacecraft is designed to protect the crew from these harsh conditions. So you get very attached to your spacecraft because it definitely does save your life."

Ms Sharman said it was significant that people would see the very capsule Major Peake travelled in rather than a life-like model or similar spacecraft.

"I think it is a tremendous thing to have Tim's capsule," she told the BBC. "Not just a Soyuz capsule - but it is Tim's. And the fact that we know that our astronaut was actually inside it - he physically sweated inside that suit, he looked outside of that window and saw what it was like to re-enter Earth's atmosphere - it really provides us with the link to our own astronauts."

Science Museum's group director Ian Blatchford said he hoped the acquisition would help inspire future generations.

He added: "It is a great honour to ... officially acquire the first flown human spacecraft in the Science Museum Group collection, one which allowed Tim Peake to make his historic journey to the International Space Station which we plan to share with the public."