ROLL UP! Roll up!

Look here! Look here!The answer to all your Christmas present difficulties.

What child – of any age – could resist a cuddly version of “one of the Greatest Curiosities known in the world”?

It is the “Marvel of the Age”, a “Wonderful Freak of Nature”. Itis surely the musthave present of the year.

Santa need spend only £5.99 on the soft toy which will either make a child go “ho, ho, ho” with amusement, or “aarghh” in horror.

The twoheaded cuddly cutie represents one of Bowes Museum ’ s stranger exhibits.

One day, a long time ago in deepest Teesdale, a calf was born with seven legs, two heads, two tails, two breasts, two backbones,four ears,four eyes and two mouths – “all perfectly formed”. Naturally, the poor thing died after a brief struggle with life.

So its owners stuffed it, mounted it and toured it around the North-Eastin a Victorian freak show.

“Thousands will be delighted to see this wonderful freak of nature,” says the poster on display next to the calf in the Barnard Castlemuseum.

Admis - sion was only 2d for adults and 1d for children.

The poster says the freak was born at East Frier House, near High Force. Presumably this is East Friar House in Baldersdale, on the banks of Blackton Reservoir, which is moderately close to the waterfall.

On a recent visit, Echo Memories was delighted to discover thatthemuseumgift shop stocks a superbly strange softtoy version ofthe Marvel of the Age. It’s bound to be selling quick at the museum’s Christmas fair this weekend so, as the poster, says: “If you are awake,move; if you aremoving, walk; if you are walking, run; and if you are running,fly to see this Little Wonder.”

Bowes Museum’s Christmas Fair is today and tomorrow (from 10am to 4.45pm). There will be 90 stalls, and a parkand-ride operating on a vintage bus from the GlaxoSmithKline car park.