Bonnie Prince Charlie's sword is among the exhibits

Staff from the National Trust for Scotland have been packing up important items dating back to the battle.

The exhibits include a sword seized from Bonnie Prince Charlie's baggage after the fight ended.

It also features a letter from the prince to King Louis of France pleading for vital support to the Jacobite army.

The famous Great Pipes of Baleshare, traditionally thought to have been played at Culloden by a piper from Baleshare in North Uist, are also being restored before returning to the new exhibition, which will use real life characters to bring the famous battle to life.

'Spruced up'

Alexander Bennett, Culloden project co-ordinator, said: "Although the exhibition in the new centre is taking a completely new approach, we have several valuable exhibits at the current centre which provide a fascinating glimpse of what life in Scotland was like at the time of the battle.

"We thought it was important that they were spruced up before taking their place in the new exhibition."

The new Culloden visitor centre is due to be open in late autumn.

The project has received support from the Scottish Executive, the European Regional Development Fund, HIE Inverness & East Highland and B�rd na G�idhlig.