IT is a piece of history probably few remember or even knew about in the first place, but when Luke Millard, 21, spotted it on sale at a military fair he knew it would be a prize exhibit for his collection.

The object was a large sign commemorating the re-establishment of the Alton Home Guard in the 1950s when the Cold War began to escalate and it looked like the Russians would attack.

He had to wait a year to get it after first spotting it two years ago as the price was £300 for the sign, bright red with the wording Alton (third) Home Guard written across it.

"I couldn't afford it at the time but eventually got it when I saw the same stall at Farnham last year and this time the man let me have it for £180."

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.