A First World War soldier whose left leg was shattered during the Battle of the Somme, used part of his thigh bone to fashion a brooch for his girlfriend.

Sergeant Thomas Kitching was badly wounded while serving with the 12 Battalion, Durham Light Infantry on July 7, 1916.

As he recovered from his injury, Sgt Kitchen used part of his thigh bone to create the bizarre piece of jewellery for his girlfriend Lizzie Hunter.

Sgt Kitching made the brooch, pictured, for his girlfriend Lizzie Hunter, who he married after the conflict

Sergeant Thomas Kitching, pictured, was serving with the 12 Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry in 1916

The amazing piece is on display at the University of Leeds, along with Sgt Kitching's portrait and several love letters he sent Miss Hunter.

According to the University of Leeds, Sgt Kitching survived the war and went on to marry Lizzie in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, after the conflict ended in 1918.

Little more is known about the veteran’s later life and experts at the university are searching for more information on the war hero.

University of Leeds student Timothy Forster, who was part of the group who selected the items for the exhibition, said: 'The brooch is a bizarre and rather puzzling item that has prompted lots of questions.

'We’d love to find out more about it.'

Sergeant Thomas Kitching made the brooch, centre, from a section of his left thigh bone in 1916

Dr Helen Graham, who tutors the students on the MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies course, said: 'The students have done an absolutely incredible job of crafting a sharp narrative out of a massive collection, in a vast topic, at a time where there are hundreds of First World War exhibitions everywhere.'