Pupils had lessons inside the travellers' wagon

Romany gypsies are the largest ethnic minority group in the county and throughout the summer months the exhibition - housed in a traditional travellers' wagon - has been detailing their contribution to the area's agricultural industry and culture.

It was developed by Pembrokeshire Museums Service with the help of pupils at Priory Junior School in Monkton after they found there was little information about gypsies at their local museum.

Now the project has made it to a shortlist of 13 for the Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year.

The exhibition inspired the older children to want to experience life on the road in a varda for themselves Teacher Beverly Stephens

The judging panel, chaired by Lloyd Grossman, will visit each candidate and whittle the entrants down to four.

The winner will be announced on 11 May at the Royal Academy, Burlington Gardens, during Museums and Galleries Month.

Beverly Stephens, specialist teacher at Monkton School, said: "The project has involved the whole community.

"Grandparents brought their grandchildren to see the wagon and talk about their memories of life on the road, it helped that there were things to see inside as well as seeing it travel between the sites.

"The exhibition inspired the older children to want to experience life on the road in a varda for themselves.

Beverly Stephens inside the travellers' wagon

"Relatives and friends have come from outside Pembrokeshire to see the exhibition, and the community has taken pride in the varda being their exhibition."

Other entrants range from a crowd-pulling national blockbuster, Titian at the National Gallery, to a small local history exhibition in a deprived area of Merseyside.

Mr Grossman said: "The aim of the prize is to reward innovation and excellence and also to enhance public awareness of our museums.