THE rugged hills of Weardale in County Durham are a world apart from the slumbering landscape of Suffolk with its picture-postcard villages.

But yesterday, they were united in prayer because of a remarkable memorial of the First World War.

The memorial, 24 florins and a farthing nailed in a beam of The Crown pub in the village of Hartest, in Suffolk,was discovered by professional storyteller Taffy Thomas during his travels around Britain.

Taffy, former storyteller in residence in the North Pennines, initially stumbled on the tale while telling children's stories in Suffolk libraries.

"When I mentioned it to the barman at the Crown, he showed me the coins and went on to tell the story," he said.

The coins were nailed to the beam at a farewell party one night in 1914 by the wives and sweethearts of village men setting off the next day to fight in France.

They promised to remove them when they returned home.

Taffy said: "The sad legacy is that there are still 24 florins and a farthing there to this day."

During his 30-year career as a storyteller Taffy has told stories all over the world, notably at festivals in Norway and the United States.

He said: "I have told thousands of stories during my career, but the one about the Hartest florins is one of the most emotive. What makes it so special is that it is very simple and direct and it is about nameless soldiers."

Taffy, who lives in the Lake District, was invited to tell the tale of the Hartest florins at yesterday's Remembrance Day service at St John's Chapel, in Weardale, by vicar, the Rev Philip Greenhalgh.

He said: "We didn't know any of the men from Hartest who paid the ultimate price for the freedom of their country. They were strangers. But like the men from Weardale and all over Britain who set off for battle in two world wars we are proud to remember them."

At the same time, the story was being related at All Saints Church, Hartest, by Rector, the Rev Patrick Prigg, at his Remembrance Day service.

Mr Prigg said: "The florins are a poignant reminder of those Hartest men who went off to war never to return and were never able to share a pint again with their friends."