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A man has admitted handling a rare Second World War clock stolen from a village hall.

The clock, which was used in RAF operations rooms during the war, was stolen from Hook Memorial Village Hall near Goole, where it had been proudly displayed for more than 50 years.

Appealing for information after the theft, which took place between January 31 and February 1, memorial hall chairwoman Jennifer Doenges said she believed it had been an "inside job", with a hall user taking the key and returning later to steal the clock.

Goole resident Timothy Henson, 59, admitted handling stolen goods between January 30 and February 14 when he appeared at Hull Crown Court on Friday.

In the particulars of the offence, the stolen item was described as an "RAF operations room clock belonging to the committee of the Memorial Hall, Hook".

Henson, of Hook Road, Goole, was released on bail and is due to appear at the same court for sentence next month following the completion of pre-sentence reports.

The clock, which was insured for more than £2,000, was used to track and plot fighter activity, with different colours on the face denoting friendly or enemy forces.

It had the name "Keith Anderson" on the front and "Elliots" on the back plate. The clock was donated to the hall by a local jewellers in the 1960s.

Speaking to the Mail in February, Mrs Doenges said: "We think they sneaked in and took it. They only took the clock. It has been up on the wall since the 1960s.

"The village are pretty devastated about it, both young and old, because everyone grew up with it. Everyone knew about the lovely clock and it has caused a lot of sadness in the village that some low-life has decided to steal it."

She contacted dealers across the country in an effort to prevent the clock being sold on, and said villagers would be "thrilled" to have it back.