A POCKET watch presented to a colliery worker more than 80 years ago is proving a puzzle for council officials.

The watch was bought for £150 from a sale of memorabilia at the Durham Mining Museum.

The buyer would have liked to have kept it himself, but felt Ferryhill Town Council should be its rightful owner.

The watch is inscribed with the name Newark D Hume, and was presented to him by "officials and workmen of Dean and Chapter Colliery" on February 22, 1919.

Jamie Corrigan, the town council's executive officer, said the watch will go on display alongside another the council has in its possession, which was presented to a Ferryhill man called Frederick Ley on his return from the First World War. But other than the inscription, the council knows nothing about the history of the watch, made by Reid and Sons of Newcastle, and no idea who Newark D Hume was.

Mr Corrigan said: "I am told it is unusual because it says it was presented by both officials and workmen.

"Usually, if you were an official it would have been presented by an official, and if you were a workman it would have been presented by the workmen, but not both.

"It is in immaculate condition and it is a lovely watch. But we are interested in finding out if anyone has any information about this guy so we can include it in the display."

Anyone with any information can contact Ferryhill Town Council on (01740) 652157.