A pensioner was left stunned after a letter he wrote to Santa more than 60 years ago was found in the chimney of his childhood home.
Robert Crampton, 65, wrote the note asking Father Christmas for a Sheriff's badge and cap gun for Christmas in 1961.
With the help of his late father, the youngster asked for a 'cowboy suit and guns and a hat and everything' which would be 'enough for me' for Christmas and marked it 'urgent'.
But his soot-covered letter has now been found perfectly folded in a chimney of his old home - after being stuck there for more than six decades.
And Robert said he was thrilled the letter had been found - and revealed he did get what he asked for that Christmas.
The letter, signed 'Robert' and stating "see you tomorrow night" - was discovered by Cheryl Thorne, 42, from Sweeps Chimney Services on Monday [July 20].
The company have since contacted Mr Crampton, who now lives in Woking, Surrey, so that he can be reunited with his childhood Christmas list.
Mr Crampton said his father, also called Robert, who was a Sergeant with the Royal Army Service Corps, penned the list for the-then five-year-old.
Mr Crampton said: "It's a letter that my dad wrote on my behalf - and I was lucky enough to receive lots of fabulous Christmas presents that year, which included a six-shooter cap gun in a holster and a sheriff's badge. What more could a kid have wanted?
"I've been contacted by the chimney sweeping company who said they're going to get the letter back to me."
Asked whether he believes in Santa, Mr Crampton said: "How can you not?"
Cheryl said it was 'wonderful' to find the letter that was remarkably still intact despite being hidden away in the chimney for years.
Cheryl, of Doe Lea, Derbyshire, said: "It's quite magical and I love imagining Robert put his letter at the bottom hoping the draft would carry it up and to Santa.
"This is the most remarkable thing we've ever found while doing this job.
"I found his request so endearing because most kids today want iPads and things like that so it's so interesting to get into the mind of a kid back then."
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