A memento of the Second World War has been returned to Silsden - and is said to be worth £500.

The silver cigarette box was recently sent to the town council by John Stansell, now 81, of New Zealand. It was a memento from his days in service on a torpedo boat which was paid for by the people of Silsden.

In a letter to the Council, Mr Stansell said he hoped the town would find use for the battle-scarred box.

It is not the first historical item the former serviceman has delivered back to the town from the boat. Back in 1999 Mr Stansell, who served on the boat before it sank during the war, was in Silsden to present the boat's teak name plaque to the town.

The box, complete with Mr Stansell's letter and the name plaque, has an insurance value of £500.

The cigarette box was given to the torpedo boat by the manufacturers Vospers and is hall-marked on the lid and base. It was made in Birmingham in 1941.

A small plaque inside reads: "Wishing MTB75 an extremely successful commission, with best wishes for the future from Vospers."

Silsden Town Council clerk Joanne Conway said: "I think a few people will be surprised at the valuation. Altogether the collection should be insured at about £500.

"The box on its own isn't worth that much but the inscriptions link it to the town and the story of the boat. It's a lovely thing to have back in the town and it's a good job Mr Stansell didn't throw it away!"

The town council will decide what to do with the box at its next meeting.