AUCTIONEERS are willing to pay hundreds of pounds for old railway station signs from Darlington, particularly in its former Great North Eastern Railway days.

Known as totems, the wide, rounded signs used to hang from the station awnings, and are now in demand as collectors' items by railway enthusiasts.

An appeal for the signs has been launched by auctioneers Woodford Railwayana, in Northamptonshire.

A company spokesman said: "We pay a minimum of £200 for the signs, but are willing to pay more for those from Darlington station as it is considered a choice name and location.

"We also want cabside number plates, smokebox number plates, diesel names, signalling items and lamps."

The auctioneers are offering a minimum of £10,000 for nameplates of steam locomotives.

Woodford Railwayana can be contacted at Parsons Street, Woodford Halse, Daventry, Northants.