AN intricate model of a ship and houses in a light bulb is the latest and one of the rarest items donated to a wartime attraction.

The well-preserved item was made during the Second World War by an Italian prisoner of war (PoW) at Eden Camp, near Malton, North Yorkshire, as a gift for a family.

More than 50 years on, it has been returned to the camp, which is now a modern history museum, to add to its huge collection of memorabilia and artefacts.

"It is remarkable to look at, so well made and detailed," said museum archivist Nick Hill.

"It is not unusual to see a ship in a whisky bottle - in fact, we have six of those - but this is unique and very cleverly made."

The PoW made the ship and houses in the bulb from small pieces of wood that he would have scavenged around the camp.

It was presented to Harry Batty, of Riseborough Hagg Farm, near Pickering, where the PoW worked during the war.

"It is not unusual for gifts to be made by the PoWs for the farming families they worked for," said Mr Hill. "Farmers were often very appreciative of the help and would look after the prisoners very well.

"Gifts like this one show the true craftsmanship of people in those days. They were so used to working with their hands and the results were often very impressive."

Mr Batty's youngest daughter, Barbara Fletcher, who lives in Barnard Castle, County Durham, took the bulb to the museum. It will go on display in a few weeks.