EXPERTS have been piecing together Dippy the dinosaur before he goes on public display on the only Scottish stop of his UK tour.

The Natural History Museum London’s 21.3-metre diplodocus skeleton arrived at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow earlier this month.

Specialists are now unpacking the 292-bone structure and undertaking the giant jigsaw of putting the dinosaur back together.

Lorraine Cornish, the Natural History Museum’s head of conservation, said: “As Dippy on Tour approaches the halfway point, having proved a huge success at the first three destinations, it seems very fitting that the next stop is a homecoming of sorts.

“The Scottish leg of the tour, where the creation of the NHM Dippy cast was first discussed, is the perfect destination to reflect on the many people Dippy has so far inspired to explore their own natural world. We hope visitors in Glasgow will be equally enthralled.”

Before arriving in Glasgow, Dippy was on display in Belfast. He travelled across to Scotland by ferry in 16 bespoke crates.

Dippy will be on display at Kelvingrove from January 22 until May 6.

Before then, visitors can watch him being put together from the balcony around the main hall.

David McDonald, chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Dippy is here. The excitement is palpable. It’s a pleasure to watch the skilled team from the Natural History Museum bring him to life in Glasgow.”