A COIN marking a milestone in a town's history has returned home after a global adventure.

The commemorative coin, which was minted to mark the separation of Thornaby from Stockton in 1892, once took pride of place in the town.

But as the years went by it was forgotten, and ended up being removed from the area.

For several decades, the whereabouts of the coin, which bears the inscription, Borough of Thornaby-on-Tees, and a portrait of W Alderson, the town's first mayor, was unknown.

Then, the town council received a telephone call from a Merseyside man who had acquired the coin from his father.

Mr McDonald senior had collected several coins during his global travels as a builder, and serving in both wars.

On discovering that one hailed from Thornaby, his son, Peter, felt it was time to send it back.

Dennis King, clerk to Thornaby Town Council, said: "The call came out of the blue. The coin relates to the day the town received its charter. It is the same age as the town hall."

Since becoming independent, Thornaby has come full circle, having returned to the control of Stockton before forming its own town council.

Mr King said having the coin back is important to its history.

"It's a remnant of the town's past," he said. "People who live in Thornaby have a strong sense of local pride."