A RARE royal licence granted to a market town by Queen Victoria could be making a return to its home after years spent unnoticed in a cellar.

The licence, dated 1846, bears the Queen's original seal and grants permission for markets and two fairs a year to be held in Stanhope, Weardale.

Later this month, the rare document will be up for auction and there are hopes it will be returned to the area.

Documents expert from Swindon auctioneers Dominic Winter Book Auctions, Richard Westwood-Brookes said: "I've never, ever seen a document like this one.

"Documents of this nature rarely come on the market. This particular example lay unnoticed in a solicitor's basement before a collector bought it many years ago.

"The intriguing thing about this particular document is that the Queen grants permission for the markets and fairs to take place 'for all time' - so it may well be that the document we are selling is still in legal force today."

The vellum document bears a portrait of the young Queen Victoria and permits George Crawhall and Joseph Beck to operate a public market every week and a fair each April and September.

Although the weekly market is gone, farmers' markets are held every few weeks.

Local historian June Crosby said the document would be perfect for the Weardale Museum in Ireshopeburn.

The Weardale Society were due to discuss the document at their meeting last night.

Mrs Crosby, from Stanhope, said: "It would be nice if the Weardale Society could get hold of this if we could afford it, or the Weardale Museum. The rightful place for it is in Weardale."

The auctioneers estimate the document will fetch £200 to £250. For more information call (01793) 611340.