THE original Giggleswick name plate from a steam engine of that name was sold for £16,300 at an auction of railway memorabilia in Sheffield.

Owners Giggleswick School used to display the name plate in the old dining hall, but took it down when its worth was realised.

The money raised from its sale will be used to fund development projects.

The first phase of the work - the expansion and refurbishment of the science block at a cost of over £1million - has recently started, and the redesign of an existing building to provide a modern, light and spacious area to house the art department is due to start shortly.

Other projects in the pipeline include the building of a new sports hall on the site of the present art building, which in turn will free up the existing sports hall for conversion into a 400-seat theatre.

Bursar Giles Bowring told the Herald: "Although it had been hoped that there would be greater interest in the nameplate, the school is delighted with the sale especially as, by releasing non-productive assets, it helps meet our objectives as a charity."

Meanwhile 85-year-old Sheffield man and former Settle resident Edward Hickling is hoping to help giggleswick's former head of biology, Nigel Mussett in his research into the history of the locomotive.

Mr Hickling is better placed than most to know about the engine, as his 46-year career on the railways brought him into close contact with it. Being a Settle lad, he also had a special interest in the loco.

He said: "I watched it being christened when I was about 15, then when I went to Sheffield to work on the railway I cleaned the locomotive, I fired the locomotive and I drove it on several occasions, even with the Thames-Clyde express. I also saw it being scrapped and it brought a tear to my eye."