Bingley's heroes from the Boer War will be honoured once more, thanks to a restoration project.

An elaborate brass tablet, commissioned at the beginning of the last century, was found covered in grime and locked away in the town's library.

Town centre manager David Dinsey, pictured, found the disgarded plaque in a cupboard, where it had remained for decades.

From the moment he wiped the dust from it, he knew he had to get it the historic piece of local heritage on public display.

Mr Dinsey has had the engraved plate restored to its former glory and it is to be put back on display in the library to honour the 49 volunteers who went to fight in South Africa at the turn of the century.

"It was in a real sorry state. But I left it at a specialist cleaners in Halifax for a month and when it came back I couldn't believe it was the same plaque," said Mr Dinsey.

The plaque was made by Bell and Co engravers of Hall Ings, in Bradford. It was commissioned by the Bingley Patriotic Fund and was unveiled in June 1905 at the Free Library in the town hall.

Made from a solid sheet of brass, it includes oak leaves and the town coat of arms, as well as a list of the yeomanry and active servicemen who volunteered for the 1899-1902 war.

Among the men remembered are two sets of three brothers, from the Barron and Ellis families.

Mr Dinsey believes the plaque was taken down when the free library closed and has not been seen for 40 years.

"It is part of history in Bingley and shouldn't be locked in a cupboard - it should be there for everyone to see," he added.

The plaque will go on display later this month along with a framed copy of a 1905 newspaper article from the Keighley News, which describes the presentation at Bingley Town Hall.

It explains that a second marble tablet was also commissioned in memory of those who lost their lives in the conflict and put into Bingley Parish Church.

The find has also sparked a search for any surviving relatives of the men who fought in the conflict.

Mr Dinsey said: "I would like to trace any relatives of those men who are mentioned on both the brass plaque and marble tablet to find out whether they have a commemorative gold medal which I would like to have photographed as part of the display.''

He is also looking into the possibility of a rededication service on the 100th anniversary of the end of the war in 2002.