A wizard who snores and splutters when children approach will be the centre-piece of the refurbished Hove Museum.

Around him will lie the detritus of his time-travels all over the world, from wartime tin soldiers to realistic creepy-crawlies.

The scene may sound like the plot of the next Harry Potter book but is actually part of the refurbished museum and art gallery, which is due to open on February 4.

As the nation's children are swept along in Hogwarts-mania again with the release of the second Harry Potter film this month, the museum has dedicated a room to their own spell-caster, Emos V. Hume.

Emos V. Hume, an anagram of Hove Museum, is currently being magicked-up by mannequin-makers but the completed life-size wizard will slump in a hammock in the attic display, complete with flowing white hair, pointed hat, capes and Dr Marten boots.

He will be fitted with an infrared sensor which will make the figure wriggle, snore and grumble when anyone gets too near.

The room itself has been decorated to convey the idea of a spell gone wrong. It is split into two sections, one decorated with Victorian furniture and toys and the other modern day.

A mock-up of the wizard's workshop for broken toys will also be featured.

Museum keeper Abigail Thomas has had a lot of fun creating the display.

She said: "We came up with the idea of a wizard's room about three years ago. We liked the idea of having an attic room as they usually have the same sorts of treasures and old toys as a museum collection.

"We designed it with children in mind and will introduce lots of games for them to play."

There will also be a model train fitted under the floorboards which children can spy through clear glass parts of the floor and artificial mouse-holes.

When the gallery opens next year, there will be a film section where visitors will be able to discover how film was invented, two craft galleries and a collection charting the history of Hove and Portslade from prehistoric times to the present day.