IT might not have been a message in a bottle, but a note tied to a balloon proved to be the next best thing for three children.

Ella Gardner, aged seven, sister Abby, aged six, and brother Peter, aged four, released a balloon on New Year’s Day.

They attached a note and a stamp to the balloon, which had been a gift to celebrate Abby’s birthday on Christmas Eve.

The youngsters then forgot all about the balloon — until they received a postcard from a man in Laos, in south-east Asia, 5,800 miles away.

The man, named Mr Chang, had discovered the balloon near Mekong River and decided to write to the children.

Their mum, Wendy Gardner, of Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, said: “The children watched all the Chinese lanterns in the sky on New Year’s Eve and decided to release the balloon.

“We’d totally forgotten about it until the postcard arrived. It took a few minutes to realise what it was.

“I’m really surprised that the balloon travelled so far. We’d only put a first-class stamp on it, because we thought it might get to Wales or Cornwall. We didn’t expect it to reach the other side of the world.”

The postcard, which is decorated with elephants, explains where Mr Chang found the balloon.

He said he had to buy a new stamp and he commented on differences in the weather and food in England and Asia.

The children have used the internet to locate Laos and plan to frame the postcard, so that it can take pride of place in their bedroom.

They recently took part in another balloon release as part of science week at St Mary’s RC Primary School, in Belgrave Street, and are waiting to find out where those balloons travelled.

Mrs Gardner, aged 29, said: “The children have released balloons before, but this is the first time that anyone has replied. We’ll definitely release more in future to see what happens.

It’s exciting to see how far the balloons can go.”