A CERTIFICATE sent to a North-East woman by the Queen Mother during the Second World War has been discovered after a spring clean.

Trevor and Pam Morgan, of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, found an old envelope, postmarked Buckingham Palace, in a bag while they were having a clear-out at the weekend.

Inside was a certificate dated 1939 and signed by Elizabeth R, the then Queen, thanking a householder for giving shelter to strangers.

The envelope was addressed to Mrs Dunn, of 5 Second Cross Row, Ferryhill, County Durham.

The certificate reads: "I wish to mark by this personal message my appreciation of the service you have rendered to your country."

Mr and Mrs Morgan have no idea how it ended up in their possession.

Mr Morgan said: "We have no idea why we have it. At first we thought it might have been connected to my daughter-in-law, whose maiden name was Dunn, but there was no connection.

"It was found in an old swimming bag, and my wife used to organise swimming challenges in the 1980s. We think it may have been left in the shop and she has brought it home and forgotten about it."

The Morgans are hoping to trace Mrs Dunn's relatives so they can return the certificate.

Do you know the family? Contact Liz Lamb on (01325) 505079.