A LETTER signed by Sir Winston Churchill which was believed stolen has mysteriously reappeared.

The framed letter, sent to Cranbrook in 1910, thanking townspeople’s for their condolences on the death of King Edward VII, was found missing from the Vestry Hall last month. A similar letter also signed by the ‘Greatest Briton’ remained.

The town’s parish councillors feared the letter, unusually signed Winston S Churchill, had been stolen. Papers bearing the great man’s signature, can fetch up to hundreds of pounds at auction.

Last week, chairman Cllr Peter North told members the letter had been left outside the door to the council chamber on the first floor of the hall.

He told the Kent Messenger: “I came up the stairs and the letter was propped up against the wall facing it.

“I almost didn’t see it. We don’t know if someone had a guilty conscience and decided to return it or had just borrowed it but we are delighted to get it back. It is part of the town’s heritage.”

At the monthly meeting Cllr Brian Swann said the letter’s disappearance had to prompt the question, was the council’s security good enough? A review is to take place. Meanwhile the two letters are now under lock and key.

Sir Winston, known affectionately as Winnie, was voted Greatest Briton in a BBC poll in 2002.