INTRIGUED shop assistants at Bolton's Debenhams store are trying to find the owner of the Egyptian bank note which was handed in at the weekend.

And a Bolton World War Two romance could well be linked to the unusual find.

For stuck on the one pound note are two small pictures of a man and woman with a message, dating from February 1943, saying: "To my darling wife Annie from her loving husband always. Love and kisses and fondest thoughts of you Dear and baby. From your Ernie." The romantic note certainly caused the hearts of Debenham store workers to flutter after it was handed in after St Valentine's Day.

Debenham's customer services manager Emma Kewley said: "This is something that will obviously have a lot of sentimental value to someone.

"It looks just like an old pound note but it was only on closer inspection that we realised what it was.

"It's certainly caused quite a stir since it was handed in and a few people who work here have wanted to have a look at it." But hopes that an unsuspecting shopper may have stumbled across a valuable piece of Egyptian days gone by have been dealt a blow. When the BEN contacted the coin department of antique experts Sotheby's we were told the one pound note is probably only worth a few quid.

But the expert added: "Although it is worth only a little, there sounds to be a very touching story behind it all."

If the note belongs to you then contact Emma Kewley on 01204 362823.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.