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A Gresham School swagger stick owned by a World War Two soldier who inspired one of the characters in The Great Escape film, has been discovered in the back of an airing cupboard.

The artefact was given to Marcel Zillessen, who was the inspiration for the character ‘Harry’ in the movie, when he attended the school in the 1930s.

It was discovered by a plumber fixing a boiler in Derbyshire.

Matt Crowson from Hansons Auctioneers who are now selling it, says it has a remarkable back story.

(Photo: Hansons/Mark Laban)