PERFECTLY preserved wartime memorabilia found in a corner shop has been donated to a museum and a drama group by the developer who made the discovery.

Alan Duffy stepped back in time when he opened the front door to the shop, in Burnley Road, Accrington, after purchasing the property at an auction.

He found the wartime corner shop complete with furniture and stock.

He also found handwritten invoices dating back to 1927 and a magazine Titbits from January 23, 1971, which declared: ‘Elsie Tanner is as common as muck.’ These and other items have now been given to Blackburn Museum and Blackburn Drama Club.

Alan, who has transformed the property into a three-bedroom house, will also take some memorabilia to Accrington Museum.

The developer, who owns Main Building Contractor, Griffin works, Clement Street, Accrington, said: “If I had left them in storage I don’t know where they would have ended up so I decided to give them to good homes. Museums are ideal as people could see how people lived in that era and I received a call from Eric from the drama club and how they would use it. They will be used for a good purpose.”

Eric Nolan, secretary of Blackburn Drama Club, who has taken delivery of seven boxes that include china and school report books, said: “It is a privilege to have these items for our productions.

“For example the books from the school which is now St Mary’s College would be ideal in an Anne Frank production.

“There will always be someone in the audience who will know the artefacts are from that exact period and it creates interest.”

Steve Rigby, director of culture, leisure and sport for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "”The paperwork from the shop is a great piece of social history, as it was from a time when shops would almost always use local suppliers.

“It will add to our record of life in the 1940s and 50s. It’s good that this information can be preserved.”