THE 70th anniversary of the founding of the Alexander Keiller Museum at Avebury was heralded by some less than serious goings on at the stone circle on Thursday.

To publicise the sale of tickets for the big celebration on June 1, National Trust staff at the ancient monument re-enacted the raising of one of the huge stones for the press last Thursday.

A polystyrene copy of one of the stones was solemnly raised using a primitive block-and-tackle system of pulleys, as Mr Keiller, the Dundee marmalade heir, would have used for his reconstruction of the site back in the 1930s.

When one of the huge stones, which had been dismantled and buried by monks from Avebury Abbey in the Middle Ages, was lifted by Keiller and his workers, the skeleton of a man was found.

From the tools found by the body, he was identified as a barber-surgeon and the group re-enacted that incident with visitor services manager Eleanor Eaton as the unfortunate medic.

The Trust promises a day packed with events on June 1.

Archaeologists, dressed in 1930s gear, will show artefacts recovered from excavations near Avebury.

Actor Alan Cheeseman will impersonate Alexander Keiller himself to give a lecture about the excavation and reconstruction.

Dance expert Mary Collins will be on hand to show how they danced in the 1930s and there will be mini-digs for children.

The day culminates in a special ceremony replicating the original opening ceremony for the museum held in 1938, followed by a tea dance, featuring live 1930s dance band music, with prizes, cocktails and much more.

Patrons are urged to come dressed in style and to bring a picnic with them.

All events, apart from the tea dance, are free, but places must be booked on (01672) 539250 or by emailing Avebury@nationaltrust.org.uk