A FIERCE dispute over who owns a city’s priceless historic treasures has become “a bugger’s muddle”, according to the crown court judge asked to sort it out.

Judge Richard Lowden was asked to advise warring members of Durham’s Charter Trust, which handles the city’s ceremonial and mayoral issues, on how to end the row.

But the Honorary Judicial Recorder of Durham told a trustees meeting at Durham Town Hall last night: “We have, ladies and gentlemen, I’m afraid what we, in lawyer’s parlance, call a bugger’s muddle.”

Internet dictionaries define the phrase as “an absolute mess” or “a fiasco” but, whatever its meaning, it has led to an acrimonious fall-out.

The issue centres on whether contents of the town hall, including dozens of paintings, framed prints, coats of arms, seals, robes and items linked to Joseph Boruwlaski, a 19th Century Polish dwarf known as the Little Count, should belong to the Charter Trust or Durham County Council.

The combined value of the treasures, some of which have been part of Durham City’s heritage for 400 years, could run into millions of pounds, though no formal valuation has been made.

All have belonged to Durham County Council since last April, pending a deal.

Some fear the council could remove items from the town hall, possibly out of Durham City, and believe more should be owned by the Charter Trust.

Councillor Carol Woods said: “I think the people of Durham will think the contents of this town hall belong to the people of Durham.

They shouldn’t be moved or disposed of.”

Councillor Grenville Holland, a former mayor of Durham, said a proposed deal was not worth the paper it was written on, while Councillor Mark Wilkes said it had more holes than a piece of Swiss cheese.

Trustees agreed to ditch the proposed deal and seek further talks with Durham County Council, with a view to taking ownership of more of the treasures.

Councillor Neil Foster, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said the authority would be willing to hold further talks.

They are to involve a delegation led by Councillor Dennis Southwell, the serving Mayor of Durham and chairman of the trust.

If no deal is reached by April, the decisions could fall to an independent arbitrator – a role Judge Lowden has offered to fill – or someone appointed by the Government.