A NEW secret will lie beneath the ball at the top of Richmond's historic obelisk.

It is thought a silver threepenny piece is already hidden between the stone base and the sphere which usually rests at the pinnacle of the historic monument.

Richmond resident Barbara Healy remembers being told that her great-grandmother had asked for the coin to be placed there more than 100 years ago when the obelisk was last restored.

Sadly, the old mason's workmanship was of such a high standard, modern contractors could not separate the base from the ball without damaging them and decided to let the stone keep its secret.

However, a new Golden Jubilee coin, struck by the Town Council to mark the Queen's 50 year reign earlier this year, was placed between base and tower yesterday - and will stay there for workmen to find during the next restoration.

A crane towered over the market place and the ball was restored to its rightful place.

Richmondshire District Council spokesman, Robert Stubbs, said most of the scaffolding, which has surrounded the monument since early autumn, will be removed over the next few days.

He said: "In all about 100 stones have been replaced. However, there is still work to be done on the base and fencing around the monument will remain until that's finished."

Much of the £80,000 restoration project was paid for by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, although both Richmondshire District Council and Richmond Town Council also helped cover the cost. It is expected work will be completed early in the New Year.