IF folklore is anything to go by, this impressive matchstick model of three enduring Darlington town centre landmarks was created by a German prisoner of war.

What is for definite is that the miniaturised version of the Victorian covered market, old town hall and clock tower took thousands of matches to complete.

Countless hours will have been spent painstakingly gluing the materials together to mimic the likeness of the buildings.

Although not to scale, it would take a particularly harsh critic to argue that the model is anything other than a well crafted work of art.

After years of gathering dust in a lonely corner of the covered market, the model was found by market manager Albert Nowicki

It has been cleaned and given a temporary home in the town hall office occupied by the leader of Darlington Borough Council.

Bill Dixon, the current holder of that office, wants to hear from anyone who may have information that could lead to the matchstick mystery being solved.

Assuming the model was created in the dim and distant past, the craftsperson who created it could also stake a claim to being able to guess the future.

That's because the units in the model version of the market building, which were once occupied in real life by controversially-closed public toilets, appear much the same in miniature as they do in full size.

That is to say, with windows covered, doors closed and not a public convenience in sight.

The model was taken on a town twinning trip to Mulheim, in Germany, last year, where it formed part of an exhibition about Darlington.

Town twinning chairman Tom Nutt said the model was a source of fascination to locals.

Cllr Dixon, who is also fascinated by the model, said: "As far as we know, it was created by a German prisoner of war.

"It was rediscovered in one of the cellars under the covered market.

"It is really interesting, and hopefully we can find out more about it.

"We've got no evidence of it being made by a prisoner of war, but it has gone down in folklore.

"It would have taken somebody hours and hours to piece together and I would like to see it put on display somewhere.

"If we were able to say a bit more about it, with some degree of authority, then so much the better."

It is hoped, one day, to display the model in a glass case in the covered market.