AN appeal has been launched to raise more than £8,000 to secure the return of a rare steam engine nameplate to its namesake town - Darlington.

Townsfolk, local businesses and rail enthusiasts are being asked to give what they can to beat the end-of-year deadline.

There are only two "Darlington" nameplates in existence and the town's Head of Steam Railway Museum has been given the opportunity to buy one before it goes to auction.

The nameplate was produced for a locomotive called Darlington (LNER Class B17 no.2852) made at Darlington Locomotive works in 1936.

But it was only made after the engine workers complained that their team had been missed off LNER's original list of 14 "Football" engines produced at that time.

It commemorates the local football club, which owned the other "Darlington"

nameplate until it was auctioned and sold to an American buyer.

A private owner based in Worthing is now selling one of the nameplates but has given the museum the chance to buy it before it goes to auction.

It has been valued at £20,000 but the buyer is willing to sell it to the museum for £19,000, plus delivery costs, if sufficient funds can be raised by the end of the year.

Darlington Borough Council has earmarked £1,000 towards the appeal and PRISM, part of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, MLA, has awarded a grant of £9,673 for half of the project cost.

This must be claimed by January 17, 2009.

Head of Steam is keen to acquire the nameplate to ensure that it is preserved for the town which was the birthplace of the passenger railway.

David Tetlow, the newly-appointed manager at Head of Steam, said: "It was through campaigning that the plate came into existence.

Now we must campaign once again for what is rightfully ours.

"We only have months to raise more than £8,000 so I urge everyone to donate what they can."

Donation forms and further information is available from the museum on 01325 460 532. Donations of over £25 will be given a credit alongside the nameplate exhibition.