GAZETTE & HERALD: CHIPPENHAM milk churn left to rot on the First World War battlefields of northern France 80 years ago has returned home.

French developers building homes or roads on land which was once the scene of fierce fighting have to check the ground for unexploded bombs and gas shells.

But at a building site on the Belgian border, excavators discovered an iron plaque from a milk churn made at Chippenham's Hathaway factory.

Curator of the Chippenham Museum And Heritage Centre Mike Stone said an antique dealer approached him about the iron plate six months ago.

The dealer bought the plaque, which has the name and place it was made clearly marked, from a Gloucestershire dealer, who got it from the finder.

Mr Stone said the exact place where it was found remains a mystery, but he suspects the developers may have unearthed a camp kitchen

behind what were the British lines.

"The churn could have gone over with some of the Wiltshire regiments, but we will be unable to confirm that until we can find out exactly where it was found."

Hathaway milk churns were made from wood, and were fitted with a trademark red iron plate.

Mr Stone said the 38cm metal disc was originally attached to the largest type of butter churn made by the company, which were built specifically for the large-scale production of butter.

The discs are found in museums across the former British Empire.