"Darlington has answered Berlin, screamed the Evening Despatch newspaper. "The Germans boasted yesterday that they had captured 100 tanks. Darlington has responded by investing £500,000, enough to replace the lost tanks - with many more to come."

During 1918, Darlington - and a week later Bishop Auckland and south Durham - were visited by Egbert the "battle-scarred warrior". Egbert was one of the earliest tanks, his sides pitted with shellmarks from his battles on the Somme with the Germans.

He came to encourage people to invest in War Savings so that the Government could spend their money on tanks.

He was greeted like a celebrity - 10,000 people alone turned out to welcome him into Bishop Auckland.

At Darlington, the Market Place was cleared, and signs were hung from lamp-posts. "I cost £5,000. How many pals will you provide?" read one. "Some gave their sons; others money. What have you done?" read another.

And: "Middlesbrough £1,957,232. Darlington £????"

This was hardly subtle extortion. Town was pitted against town; school was pitted against school. In Darlington, the Girls' High School was the biggest academic contributor with £750; Bondgate came second with £500. "There are whispers, however, that Bondgate has not yet done," said the Despatch, The Northern Echo's former sister evening paper. "Bondgate - hurry up."

In seven days in Darlington, Egbert raised £812,000, meaning £13 10s 6d per head was invested.

He then moved on to Durham City before stationing himself in Bishop Auckland Market Place for three days. Lady Eden of Windlestone Hall, who had lost two sons in the war, jumped on to Egbert's roof and launched the appeal with a passionate speech, which ended with a call for clergymen to take up arms.

Sedgefield sent more than £47,000, and a military-style operation began in Shildon. The town was split in districts and canvassers toured every street in every district drumming up money. "The majority of the canvassers are ladies - chiefly teachers," said the Despatch.

Unfortunately, the paper didn't see fit to print a final total for south Durham, but as £80,000 was raised on day one and £82,538 on day two, we can safely assume that well over £200,000 was raised by the end of Egbert's three-day stay.

One pound in 1918 would be worth a little more than £20 today.

In more peaceable times, the tanks became redundant, and the National War Savings Committee presented them to most towns in the country as a thank-you.

Darlington's tank was processed through the streets to South Park where it was placed just inside the Victoria Embankment gates. Its innards were taken out and although it had metal railings around it, it became a climbing frame.

"It seemed to be a massive thing when I was a young boy," says Sam Buckle, of Egglestone View. "There was a door in the side but they'd fastened that up, so I used to get in through the turret."

In 1939, a second world war began, and the tank and its railings were quickly removed and melted down so that a newer, more ferocious fighting machine could be created to take on the Germans.