FORMER laundry manager Pauline Golightly confesses to more than a passing interest in old washing machines.

Her relationship with one particular model has, in fact, developed into an obsession.

It all began at a car boot sale at Scorton, where 35-year-old Pauline spotted the 162-year-old machine, made in Manchester.

"I knew exactly what it was, but I couldn't believe I was standing looking at it at a car boot sale," said Pauline of Darlington.

"It was in a bit of a state and I managed to push down the asking price until I ended paying very little for it."

Pauline then discovered that the washing machine had been housed in a laundry at Stanhope Castle in Weardale.

A plaque on the barrel-shaped washing machine reads: June 17, 1841, made by Thomas Bradford, laundry engineers, Manchester.

Pauline's fascination with old washing machines started at a Middlesbrough laundry equipment company where she worked, which had a small museum containing old washers.

Having bought the washer Pauline then needed to persuade boyfriend Steve and three of his friends to help to load it into a van to get it home.