AN antique trophy, originally played for at Accrington Golf Club in 1907, will go under the auctioneer's hammer.

The silver trophy, expected to fetch up to £1,500 at Sotheby's in London, was last heard of when it was offered to the club prior to auction 12 years ago.

But the high price ticket meant that club officials had to forego the temptation then and may still have to wait another 12 years before bringing it home.

The discovery has caused a great deal of interest and club secretary Gerry Dixon swung into action when told of lot 31's existence in the sporting sale on July 11.

" I will be speaking to some of our older members and former secretary Jim Pilkington to see if they know anything," said Gerry.

"A chap called Keith Walmsley wrote a history of the club for our centenary in 1993 and I will certainly be checking with him."

Gerry said it would be fitting if the trophy could be returned to the club so that members could play for it again after all these years but he and the finance director could not justify paying £1,500.

The trophy depicts an Edwardian golfer at the top of his backswing and was given as the captain's prize in 1907, when it was won by J.S.Haw.