An appeal has gone out for information concerning a historic police baton.

Sarah Goldie of the Largs Museum has asked ‘News’ readers for their help in relation to the baton which has a specific link to Largs, and it has a painting and logo which has baffled local historians.

The Victorian hand painted police truncheon belonged to the Largs constabulory, and has a contemporary hand painted red, white and blue shield with gold outline on the body and a very old hand written paper label, stating ‘Largs, Ayrshire’, It has a wooden ring first protector, and a turned ribbed handled with small leather loop, and is considered an excellent Victorian Scottish Truncheon.

Pictures of the truncheon were sent to the Largs Museum which is based in Kirkgate Close, Largs, Sarah said: “I was sent the photo by a former Largs resident, and a former curator of the police musuem at Tuliallan. I am not precisely sure if the truncheon has just been found, or this is a picture which has appeared in a catalogue. We have been asked for historic details in relation to it, but no local person has been able to come up with an explanation so far, so we thought we would ask Largs and Millport News readers to see if they could help.

“It is very interesting - we don’t have a specific date, it could be before Largs became a police burgh or afterwards. I don’t know when police batons came into existence, but someone localy might know that, and it could help us in establishing a date.” If you can help, email editorial@largsnews.co.uk or write to Largs and Millport News, 12 Princess Street, Ardrossan 8BP.