Regulars at the Ship Inn, in Middlestone Village, have taken up landlord Graham Snaith's challenge of visiting all 5,000 pubs listed in the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) Good Beer Guide in 12 months.

Everyone has to bring back proof they have visited a pub, usually in the shape of beer mats or bottles of wine which are auctioned to raise money for the Butterwick Hospice in Bishop Auckland. The last auction raised £540.

But when one pubgoer told the landlord of a Hampshire inn that he needed a sign that he had made a visit, he did not think he would be taken so literally.

He returned from the Sirloin of Beef, in Southsea, Hampshire with a 4ft pub sign which he has now presented to Mr Snaith.

The landlord of the Southsea pub told his Northern visitor that the name of the pub before he took it over had been the Huntsman. He went down to the cellar and found the sign propped up against the wall.

The souvenir will be added to items due to be auctioned off in May.

So far, pubgoers have visited 542 pubs in 70 days, but there are still about 4,400 to go.

If anyone would like to help with the quest, they can collect a participation form from the pub, or contact Graham Snaith by telephoning (01388) 810904.