A COLLECTION of unusual curios has a new home thanks to a North-East museum.

The collection was put together by cobbler Jack Anderson, of Marske in east Cleveland, who died in 2001.

He called his cottage Winkie's Castle, after his cat, and now the contents have been donated to the Kirkleatham Museum, in Redcar.

Until space can be found, they will be stored in a 30ft container.

Yesterday, the container was lifted into place by a 50-tonne crane.

Among Mr Anderson's collection are rare photographs, including pictures of an early fire engine fighting a farm blaze.

There is also a ship's ledger from 1934, agricultural tools and part of a Second World War sea mine washed up on Redcar beach.

Work will now start on bringing all the treasures from the terraced cottage to the museum for sorting, archiving and interpreting.

The cottage's outbuildings and garden have already been cleared.

It is hoped that, by Easter, at least two rooms containing the curios will be open for people to visit.

* If you want to be a Friend of Winkie's Castle, contact membership secretary Gordon Fisher at 8, Mount Pleasant Avenue, Marske.