A UNIQUE piece of a town's railway history has been returned to its rightful home 50 years after it was used as an impromptu weapon.

In the Fifties, Jack Cudbertson was forced to pick up a shovel to defend himself at Bank Top Station, in Darlington, when he was attacked by Army soldiers from a nearby barracks.

The shovel belonged to Locomotion No 1, the engine built by George Stephenson's works, which pulled the first train on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

From 1892 to 1975, the engine was on display at the station until it was moved to Darlington Railway Museum.

The shovel was the first thing that came to hand when Mr Cudbertson was attacked by the soldiers.

Now, more than 50 years after being used to fend off their attack, it has been returned to Darlington Railway Museum, which has been refurbished and renamed the Head of Steam.

After he picked up the shovel, Mr Cudbertson forgot to put it back and he kept it for more than 25 years.

He then gave it to friend Charlie Dennis, from Devon, who he knew was interested in locomotives and rail memorabilia.

Mr Dennis has kept it in perfect condition since.

The pair have now given it back to the museum so visitors can see it in its traditional place.

Madi Grout, the collections officer at the museum, said: "We are delighted to see the firing shovel returned to its rightful home at Head of Steam.

"This is an important part of Locomotion No 1's history and it is fantastic to have all of the elements of the engine's heritage pieced together again."

A museum spokeswoman said: "The firing shovel is a key piece of equipment in the locomotive industry, and one which a driver would surely have missed in times gone by.

"Shovels like this were used by stokers to make sure the fire stayed at extremely high temperatures so the engine would keep moving.

"It is rare to find one in this condition, with such a great story behind it, and the return of Charlie's shovel serves as a telling reminder of the area's locomotive past."

The museum reopened in April after a £1.7m refit, part of which involved giving Locomotion No 1 more prominence.