Churchill letter revealed in raid

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A hand-written letter from the wife of Sir Winston Churchill has been found by police during a drugs raid on a house in South Yorkshire.

Officers in Mexborough found the letter and three cheques mounted on a card inside a plastic sleeve.

The note from Clementine Churchill thanks a woman for making a donation to a Red Cross fund of which she was the president.

Police want to trace the owner of the letter, which is dated 1942.

In the message, Lady Churchill says: "This is to acknowledge with grateful thanks your contribution to Mrs Churchill's Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund."

The fund was set up by the Red Cross in 1941 to pay for clothing and medical supplies for Britain's Russian allies, raising some £8m during World War II.

Drug charges

Pc Steve Roberts, of Doncaster Police, said: "The address on the letter is not in Doncaster but it is in the South Yorkshire area.

"I am confident it is not a reproduction as it is hand-written on both sides.

"We urge anyone with information about the letter or who believe it may belong to them to get in touch with us."

Police, who suspect the letter has been stolen, are withholding the name of the recipient to prevent people from falsely claiming to be the owner.

A quantity of heroin was also recovered from the house during the raid last month.

A 55-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of theft and possessing Class A drugs.

Her 32-year-old son and her sister, aged 41, were also arrested on suspicion of theft.

All three have been released on bail, police said.