A BILL for moving a piece of history could run into thousands of pounds.

Residents on Teesside have mounted a campaign for the return of two tall columns of ironstone which graced the entrance to Eston town hall 30 years ago.

Members of Eston Residents' Association say the town hall is technically in South Bank, and they want the columns back.

However, local councillor George Dunning, deputy leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said the cost of uprooting the stones would be too much.

He said: "Redcar and Cleveland Council set £6,000 aside for this, but it was discussed at length by the Eston District Forum about a year ago, when several people were against spending money of this magnitude to remove the pillars no more than half a mile down the road.

"People complained this would be taxpayers' money.''

The pillars, presented to the people of Eston by Victorian ironmasters Henry Bolckow and John Vaughan, were moved to the town hall entrance from outside Eston's hospital when that building was demolished in the 1970s.

Ann Higgins, of Eston Residents Association, said money and funds were available to pay for the relocation of the columns back to their rightful home.