IT HARDLY ranked alongside the glittering advertising signs of London's Piccadilly Circus.

But the neon sign featuring a stork holding a baby in its beak with the words 'We Supply All But the Baby' which adorned Baileys in Cheapside and later New Street, was much-loved by generations of shoppers.

The sign has languished at Elsecar Heritage Centre since Baileys closed in the 1990s. The Coddswallop Trust at the centre mounted it on a wall.

But it has been restored and will shine again for visitors to the heritage centre's antiques centre.

Former Test umpire Dickie Bird will light up the sign for the first time in many years to mark the completion of the restoration on September 12.

Pete Bickerstaff, of Leeds-based historic signs renovation specialists Neoncraft Ltd which has done the work, believes the stork is an important example of the increasingly rare neon signmaker's art.

Pete and the firm's co-owner Chris Timmermans took careful measurements and rubbings of the original design.

The glass tubing was re-made and electrical wiring and transformers replaced to conform to safety regulations.

All the other parts of the sign have been left as untouched as possible.

Coddswallop Trust chairman Sue Watts said: "Neoncraft completed all the work for us for £1,800, an extremely generous gesture. We are busy raising funds to cover the cost of the project."

The stork was put up when Edward Bailey opened a draper's shop at 17 Cheapside in the 1880s. The shop closed in 1968 when the town centre was being extensively rebuilt.

Baileys put up the sign at its new premises in New Street.

• The Coddswallop Trust has appealed for memories of the sign and wants to hear from people who worked at the shop or are descendants of the Bailey family. Write to Sue Watts, c/o The Coddswallop Trust, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Wath Road, Elsecar, Barnsley S74 8HJ or email admin@coddswallop.org.