According to the oldest form of the tale, the magician Merlin granted a childless couple their wish to have a son, and they promised to take care of him even if he were "only the size of his father's thumb".

After his birth, the diminutive Tom got up to all sorts of mischief and stories about him have entertained children for centuries.

But did you know that South Shields actually had its own, real-life Tom Thumb over a century ago?

On Monday, February 11, 1849, a travelling entrepreneur arrived in South Shields accompanied by a tiny man whom he billed as "the original Tom Thumb".

We don't know his name, but what we do know is that he was only 26 inches tall!

The following day Tom, accompanied by his manager, sat on a miniature "throne" next to the old Town Hall in the Market Square and regaled the crowds with stories of his adventures and antics. He was an instant hit.

In our modern society there would no doubt be allegations made that Tom was being exploited because of his disability, but he didn't seem to think so.

He turned a disadvantage into a way of making a handsome living, and seemed to enjoy the attention enormously.

Overnight, Tom became something of a celebrity.

Everyone wanted to meet him and engage him in conversation.

Bobby Dixon, who managed the Jolly Jack Tar public house in Thrift Street, immediately gave the two men free board and lodgings.

But fairytales inevitably draw to a natural conclusion, and not all have happy endings.

Tom had been touring the region, and his fame had brought him a constant stream of admirers, all of whom wanted to buy him a pint of ale or a glass of porter.

Alas, he rarely declined, and his health had begun to deteriorate rapidly.

In February, his manager told a reporter from The North & South Shields Gazette: "He has been drinking excessively over the last two months, and eats as little as would serve a bird."

Still, Tom kept up his appearances at the market, and drew ever-bigger crowds.

On Monday, February 18, Tom left Market Square for the last time and returned to the Jolly Jack Tar exhausted.

He went to the bar, and, as per usual, was bought a drink by an admirer.

Suddenly, after imbibing only half the contents of his glass, he collapsed to the floor "in a state of severe paralysis".

Bobby Dixon immediately arranged for a local doctor to come and, according to reports at the time, "every attention was paid to him by those in the house".

Alas, nothing could be done. Tom's condition deteriorated overnight and he passed away peacefully in his sleep the following morning.

Who really was the Tom Thumb that so enchanted the folks of South Shields?

We do not know. The tide of time has washed away the detail, and left us only with an intensely sad story.

Tom was only 40 years old when he died, but they were 40 years well spent.

He put a smile on the faces of thousands, and South Shields was the less for his passing.

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