'LIKE something out of a museum' was how confused staff described a piece of mail that dropped through their letterbox this week - 62 years after it was posted.

An empty envelope that was posted from Germany in 1951 landed on the doormat at the Missenden Abbey Conference Centre in Great Missenden.

Staff at the conference and event centre in London Road, which is owned by Buckinghamshire New University, were left stunned at the mysterious late arrival.

They are now trying to track the relatives of the man the envelope was addressed to, a James Dunnill.

General manager Eva Neupauer-Jones said: "We are all flabbergasted and surprised at how this envelope came to arrive. Where it has been all these years? The stamp on it was issued in 1951 and it looks like something out of a museum, not the usual post we receive.

"We have searched our records and it turns out that James Dunnill was a warden at Missenden Abbey from 1947 to 1954 but the letter has certainly taken its time to get here.

"We are going to try and track down who could have sent it, as the return address in Germany is on the back of the envelope, but would also like to hear from anyone who may be related to or have known James Dunnill."

She added: "The envelope will also be displayed in our reception area alongside our guestbook, which dates back to 1949."

Can you help solve the mystery? Contact Missenden Abbey Conference Centre on 01494 866811.