A MUSEUM is trying to found out information about a cigarette packet with a North-East link.

The Chesterfield Museum, in Derbyshire, is trying to date an item made by a box-making company from the region.

The box is for tobacco cartridges which were used for people making their own cigarettes.

The company which retailed them, and possibly made them, was Newcastle-based Finlay & Co Ltd.

As the brand name was Raby, as in Raby Castle, in Teesdale, County Durham, the Chesterfield Museum believes the box has a North-East connection.

Museum curator Anne-Marie Knowlesis hoping The Northern Echo's readers may be able to shed some light on when the brand was available.

She said: "I believe that by 1927 Finlay's were purely retailers of tobacco, rather than manufacturers.

"The box shows a very different view of tobacco than is held today, and suggests Raby Mixture was the brand chosen by royalty."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ms Knowles at Chesterfield Borough Council on (01246) 345727.