He can't put a sign outside because of health and safety, but don't miss out on Alastair Dunn's treasure trove.

IT WOULD be very easy to miss Alastair Dunn's shop, which would be a shame. Gifts 'n' Things is on Bakehouse Hill in Darlington, upstairs, next to the Book Cellar, on the corner of the Market Place, once always bustling, now very attractive but often deserted.

"I'm all for the improvements in the town, but they seem to be moving everything away from us here," says Alastair.

He's not allowed to put a sign on the pavement either, in case anyone walks into it.

But the shop is worth seeking out.

Among its delights are vintage-style pedal cars, tough ride-on tractors, Tantrix puzzles, traditional wooden toys, hobby horses, swords, bows and arrows (with suction ends), lots of presents for chaps... Oh yes, and the Darlington Dobie - a Freshly Caught Fairy, an elf in a jar, especially designed for Darlington and exclusive to the shop. He even has a little scroll telling the story.

It may be no coincidence that Alastair is from Scotland and that the Dobie's original job was haggis-guarding.

Back in the real world, Alastair, like his father before him, was a joiner by trade. "That's why I think I have so many wooden things in the shop. I still like wood. And I like things are a bit different, that you can't get anywhere else."

As well as the children's toys - such as the kitchen with cooker on one side, and washing machine on the other, and a wooden wheelbarrow with tools - there are lots of wooden construction kits. You can build anything from a crab to Concorde, Tower Bridge or a tyrannosaurus, a submarine or the space shuttle.

There are 3D wooden puzzles too, including a lovely little Noah's Ark that would make a great Christening present, through all sorts of animals, dragons, musical instruments to a Harley Davidson.

"We have a lot of 50 and 60-year-old men who collect the models of bikes and scooters. It makes them easy to buy presents for," says Alastair.

In fact, a lot of presents are aimed at men, including the wooden replicas of classic cars and motorbikes, die cast models, England watches. "In a few weeks' time we should have a range of St Andrews golf gifts too, which should solve a few more present problems," he adds.

It won't be the only bit of Scotland. There are crates of Irn Bru stacked under the display stands. "They're in glass bottles. Down here you normally get Irn Bru in plastic bottles, which is made in England. If it's in glass bottles it comes from Glasgow and tastes different," says Alastair.

Irn Bru connoisseurs, now you know where to go.

Gifts 'n' Things, Bakehouse Hill, Darlington. Closed Wednesdays and Sundays.