A huge Star Trek display has opened in London's Hyde Park - the biggest event of its kind there since 1851 - with $30m (�20m) worth of the TV show's memorabilia and sets.

The Star Trek Adventure exhibit, which covers more than 7,000 square metres, has taken over the corner of the park near Speaker's Corner.

	:	Trekkies treat
Fans' views on London's Star Trek exhibition

Fans of the long-running sci-fi show can operate flight simulators and interact with displays honouring its five decades of TV and cinema.

The event also pays homage to the 10 Star Trek movies, and the television programme's creator, the late Gene Rodenberry, who died in 1991.

William Shatner has been promoting the exhibition

The climate-controlled event is expected to go on a world tour after its London run ends on 31 January.

It is the biggest display Hyde Park since the 1851 Great Exhibition, which ran for six months before moving to Crystal Palace in south London.

The event has already been give the seal of approval by the original captain of The Enterprise, William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the show's early series.

He was in London last week to promote the show.

The exhibition was used as the aftershow venue for the premi�re of the new Star Trek film, Star Trek Nemesis.

Patrick Stewart, who plays Captain Jean Luc Picard, attended the premi�re with his wife in Leicester Square, along with Brent Spiner (Data) and Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi).

Death rumours

Stewart admitted that the film, the 10th Star Trek spin-off, may be the last for the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

"You never want to outstay your welcome - just like an athlete, it's horrible to go on when the best is over," he said.

"I feel like we don't want to be the last guests at the Star Trek party," the 62-year-old Yorkshire-born actor added.

Before the film was released in the US, rumours circulated that Picard was to be killed off at the end of the film.

Box-office hit

"Rumours of my death are grossly exaggerated." he said.

"But the finale of the film would make a very appropriate farewell to the Next Generation.

"I think this is the best movie we've done and I would feel very satisfied if we have to bring down the curtain on the Next Generation after this."

The film has already proved to be a box-office hit in the US. It was the second-biggest film in the North American charts last week.