DINOSAUR lovers from all over the world have come forward in the hope of giving a home to a giant plastic raptor.

Back in July, Oxford University Museum of Natural History announced it needed a new home for its four metre-long Utahraptor model as it was surplus to requirements and languishing in storage.

Staff hoped they would receive at least one or two applications, but instead they have been inundated with hundreds of requests from all over the globe.

Digital engagement officer at the museum Scott Billings said: "We were slightly bowled over really. When we decided to do this we thought we would have a few people get in touch. As it turns out we had almost 200 applications.

"We even had quite a few from the States, from Europe, and the majority were from Oxfordshire. We had schools, museums, science centres, even a church.

"We even got a few applications from individuals who want a dinosaur in their living room but it won't be going to them."

The large Utahraptor model was on display at the museum for a number of years before being put into storage to make way for a few temporary exhibitions.

But, reluctant to leave the carnivore in a dark room, staff decided it should be on display for the public to enjoy.

Utahraptors are cousins of Velociraptors, made famous in the 1993 Jurassic Park film and the recent Jurassic World reboot.

Mr Billings added: "We had a real mix of places apply. Perhaps most interestingly is that the Utahraptor is originally a predator from Utah. And we have had at least three submissions from Utah. I think it's extremely unlikely it will end of going back there. But that would be quite a story."

Establishments from Oxfordshire that put in a keen request for the prehistoric predator included King Aldred's Academy from Wantage, Didcot Library, and East Oxford Primary School.

Mr Billings said: "I think it's fair to say we want it to stay in Oxfordshire, but if someone made a really nice application from outside the area then that will be a possibility."