TWO pieces of silver owned by a North Yorkshire community are back on display after restoration paid for by a well-wisher.

President of the Friends of the British Antique Dealers Association Trust, Christopher Warner, and colleague Garth Brown, were viewing the collection owned by Richmond Town Council - usually displayed at the Green Howards' Regimental Museum - when they noticed the Cotterell Salt and the Monteith both needed repair.

Rather than let them continue to deteriorate, Mr Warner agreed to pay the £1,000 cost of restoration by expert Barry Whitmond, of Stamford, in Lincolnshire. Both pieces have now been returned and are on display.

Curator of the Green Howards' Museum, Roger Chapman, said: "We are proud to display the council's unique collection alongside other pieces from the guilds of Richmond and our own regimental silver.We are all very grateful to Mr Warner for his very generous donation, and for his continuing interest in the silver."