A MAN has been reunited with his grandfather's medal - five years after it was stolen from his North-East home.

The gold medallion, given to M J Aspden by the Darlington Club and Institute as a First World War memento, was returned to his grandson, Alan Aspden, 67, during a presentation at the club this week.

Mr Aspden was devastated when thieves took the treasured heirloom from his home in Darlington. He had given up hope of seeing it again when he got a call from former school friend Dave Barron to say it had been recovered outside a pub in Blackpool.

Mr Barron, who moved to the seaside town ten years ago, spotted the medallion on a charm bracelet that a man was selling outside his local pub.

"I recognised the name on it and realised it had to be stolen," he said.

"I got in touch with Darlington Club and Institute and they gave me Alan's number. He was really touched to hear I'd found it."

Mr Aspden, who became a member of the club on his 21st birthday, said: "It has been in the family for nearly a hundred years. My father inherited it from my grandfather and when he died he handed it on to me.

"I'm so glad to have it back. Dave was an old friend of mine and I am very grateful to him for looking me up."

Mr Aspden's grandfather, Matthew, was one of the founding members of the Darlington Club and Institute, which opened in 1901. His father, Jack, served on the committee for more than 25 years.

Club president Stan Summers said: "It is the only medal of its kind to have been presented by our club, so it is very special. Alan is very pleased to have it back."

He is appealing for anyone with information about the history of the Darlington Club and Institute during the Great War to contact him on (01325) 467925.