FOR nearly 40 years, a shining silver tennis club trophy was proudly displayed in the home of its last men's singles champion.

When Charlie and Vera Button moved house, the 15in high cup went as well - kept gleaming under Mrs Button's care.

But three years after Mr Button's death, his widow has finally decided to part with the prize he last won in 1952, at the lawn tennis club in their home village of Tudhoe, near Spennymoor, County Durham.

She has handed it to Spennymoor Town Council, which will keep it on show in Spennymoor Town Hall.

Charlie, who was 84 when he died, held the prize three times before the club folded shortly after his last victory.

First a factory and later houses were built on the courts in Tudhoe Village, where the club was founded in 1887. In its heyday there were as many as 50 members, but now Mrs Button is one of a handful of former players still living in the Spennymoor area.

Mr Button's job as a manager with the Pearl Assurance company took him to Seaham and Middlesbrough before the couple retired to Tudhoe.

He excelled at all ball games and captained an RAF football XI in Rhodesia during the Second World War.

Mrs Button said: "It will be put on show in the Town Hall but it won't be played for again. It is engraved with the name of the club, so it can't be."

Spennymoor town clerk Terry Robson said the council was delighted to accept the trophy.

He said: "It is a slice of our history and it will go on permanent display."