"IT'S not Terry's - it's mine". That's what developers Grantside want to hear from the owners of a whole host of portraits left unclaimed from the former Terry's chocolate factory in York.

Twenty-four black and white portrait photos need to go back to their rightful owners.

If you ever worked at the Terry's chocolate factory or your relatives worked there, or even if you know people who worked at Terry's, you may be able to help.

Peter Callaghan, of Grantside, the company which is set to redevelop the site, said: "Almost everything was cleared out of the buildings before we took ownership except for some black and white portrait photos of the former employees.

"We would really like the chance to give them back to their rightful owners, or at least to their surviving family members."

They have all been hanging on the corridor walls of the main headquarters building at the factory for many years.

Mr Callaghan said: "Most of the portraits are of long service employees who have had commemorative photographs taken for reaching their 50 years' service to Terry's. Most of them date from the early 1900s to the mid-1970s.

"These photographs could have real sentimental and historical value to many individuals and families in and around York, and we hope that we can trace the families so that we can pass these historic pictures on to them."

Anyone who believes they are the closest relative of the portrait employees should register interest by phoning Beattie Communications on 0113 213 0300, or by emailing victoria.walker@beattiegroup.com or erin.campbell@beattiegroup.com.

Portraits left at the factory

* George Edward Eccles, 1894 - 1944* James W Hall, 1886 - 1936* Charles Hardgrave, 1894 - 1943* Tom Ernest Sumpton, 1896 - 1946* Edward H Swale, 1900 - 1950* John H Todd, 1901 - 1951* Richard Gossop, 1908 - 1958* George Stembridge, 1906 - 1961* Reginald Kitching, 1910 - 1961* George K Coatsworth, 1918 - 1968* Terence Flanagan, 1920 - 1970* Dorothy E M Lay, 1920 - 1970* John Hodgson, 1920 - 1970* William Henry Jennings, 1922 - 1973* Noel Esh, 1923 - 1973* Noel Henry Peacock, 1923 - 1973* Frank Duncanson, 1923 - 1974* Alfred Ernest Hutton, 1924 - 1974* Frank Smith, 1924 - 1975* William Edward Jose, 1924 - 1975* Walter Peake, 1925 - 1975* Mary Elizabeth Cass, 1925 - 1976* William Arthur Croft, 1926 - 1976* Doreen Taylor, 1927 - 1977