TRAVELLING back 140 million years to experience the terrifying world of Jurassic Dorset will be possible this weekend, thanks to a financial boost.

Jurassica- a multi-million pound interactive museum about the dinosaurs based on Portland- has secured financial support from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (WPBC) for its forthcoming 'Sea Monsters' event on Portland.

This roar-some sculpture was unveiled to mark the project.

Cllr Mike Byatt, WPBC economic development briefholder said: “We are pleased to be able to support the Jurassica project as it offers the borough and Dorset significant opportunities for economic growth, jobs and the creation of an iconic attraction on Portland.

“I would encourage anyone interested in the project to come along to these consultation events to find out more about the project and to share their views or raise any questions or concerns they have. Feedback from the community will help inform the next stages of the Jurassica project.”

The Sea Monsters event runs from tomorrow until Monday at Osprey Leisure Centre and the Drill Hall Gallery. The council has pledged £500 towards it.

An exhibition about the project will showcase architectural models and plans, immersive virtual reality technology, and fossils from the Jurassic Coast, which are currently held in private collections.

A programme of free public events, suitable for all the family, includes site walks, talks, workshops and activities.

Michael Hanlon, Jurassica founder and CEO, said: "The council has been right behind us from the start. It has provided us with office space, professional support and advice and has now stepped in to help us with our Bank Holiday weekend event - which is our way of reaching out to the community across the borough."

Jurassica is the vision of Michael Hanlon, a science writer who grew up in Dorset.

Local businesses have provided vital funding to the £80m project to build the world’s most spectacular prehistoric visitor attraction, on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, which will be seeking planning permission by the end of 2016.

Jurassica has the backing of the Royal Society and the Natural History Museum and was awarded a £300,000 grant by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, as part of the Government’s Local Growth Deal in 2014.

The project’s patron is Sir David Attenborough.

For more details on the Sea Monsters event, please visit jurassica.org/events