STAFF at a North Yorkshire visitor centre want people to root in their attics to give them something to hang on the walls this Christmas.

Wallpaper at The World of James Herriot, in Thirsk, has been badly affected by rising damp in recent years.

One wall of the living room in the centre, on Kirkgate, has been stripped of its paper such is the problem.

Staff at the centre, the former surgery of Alf Wight who wrote as James Herriot, have no more rolls in stock.

So they are urging locals to hunt through their attics and wardrobes to see if they can uncover a roll in a specific pattern.

Alison Scurrah, centre manager, said: "It’s not the original covering but it has been on the walls for almost ten years and does have a 40s feel to it.

"It has a textured background flecked with white, grey and beige – and has fans of brown and beige pampus grass and ferns across it.

"Rather than re-decorate the whole room we are hoping there might be someone out there who either has the same paper on their walls and has a spare roll or might recognise it and point us in the right direction for a supplier.

"We are asking everyone getting out all the Christmas decorations from the loft or cupboards to check their wallpaper stocks at the same time – maybe there is an odd roll lurking in Hambleton."

Anyone who can help should contact The World of James Herriot on 01845-524234.