Baroness Thatcherjoined Princess Anne at the opening of a new Cold War museum near Wolverhampton today.

The ex-Prime Minister was among dignitaries visiting RAF Museum Cosford, near Albrighton, for the unveiling of the National Cold War Exhibition.

Princess Anne was officially opening the £12.5 million museum, which features more than 70 exhibits including British and Russian planes.

The museum has been built in a space-age building that has seen the biggest expansion of the site for more than 30 years ago.

The 80,000 sq ft building is split into two halves by an iron curtain and features two sections. The Light Side has windows, details the Berlin Airlift and the space race with windowless Dark Side showcasing nuclear weapons.

Former US defence secretary Robert McNamara was among the VIP guests today for the opening, which featured a military flypast. The museum is free to enter and opens to the public for the first time tomorrow.