A HANDWRITTEN note which appears to be from the renowned author, Enid Blyton, has been found in a Hay-on-Wye bookshop.

The border town is known as a treasure trove of quaint and boutique shops but one visitor was left amazed with what she found inside a book on sale for £1.

Jacqueline Ralph was walking in the border town when she noticed a cabinet of books outside the Cinema Bookshop, in Castle Street.

Inside the front page of the George Elliot novel on sale for £1 was a handwritten note.

It said: "Dear Mary, my warm congratulations on winning one of my prizes!

"You did very well and you deserve a prize –I am very pleased to send it. Well done!

"Love from Enid Blyton"

Due to icy conditions Jacqueline, from Litchfield, decided against a walk in the Brecon Beacons electing for a stroll in the market town instead leading to the discovery.

She said: "We were walking around the town and I noticed a lot of books on sale for £1 in a book case.

"I took four books out of which this was one and when I opened it up I couldn't believe what I saw.

"Enid Blyton's signature is so recognisable from growing up reading the Famous Five books.

"I just couldn't believe it."

The George Elliot book titled Silas Marner previously belonged to Mary Enyd Bowles and appears to have been given to her by the famous author in March 1956.

The note was stuck with glue to the cover of the book.

"I was amazed that something so precious could be stuck in with glue," added Jacqueline.

"I'm not sure if this lady was local or not."