An extremely rare piece of railway history is heading to North Yorkshire after workers on a gas pipeline in Cleveland stumbled across a signal that dates back to the 1940s.

The signal had effectively been abandoned, as it stood in a field near the Guisborough to Brotton line which was closed in the 1960s.

It will now be donated to the North Yorks Moors Railway, leaving staff on the line delighted at the unusual find.

"This really is wonderful news," said railway spokesperson Jane Lethbridge.

"Authentic items such as this are harder and harder to find these days, and the fact that this signal dates back to the 1940s makes it extremely rare indeed.

"It is difficult enough finding items that date from more recent times than that."

The signal will now be stored in engine sheds near Grosmont until a team of experts can begin the painstaking task of restoring it to its former glory.

Gordon Boughen of Transco, the company which rediscovered the signal, said: "We worked closely with rail experts to remove it in the safest way possible, which meant slinging a harness around the signal and using a digger to unearth it intact.

"We were really pleased to find the signal - it provides a lovely reminder of the golden age of the railways and we were very keen to play a part to stop it rotting or getting vandalised."