A Dorchester war hero is at the centre of a 50-year-old mystery after a love letter to his wife was found at a car boot sale.

The six-page letter, written by Sergeant Harry Allen Trump, was in a wallet hidden at the bottom of an old rucksack, with a picture of his wife Margaret.

Sgt Trump, who was wounded in the D-Day landings in 1944, also stashed away newspaper cuttings of their engagement and marriage as well as horseshoe confetti and a card from their wedding in the wallet.

Now members of Dorchester's Royal British Legion are appealing for help to return the treasures to the couple or their family.

Chairman Ray Voss said: "It's a real mystery.

"They're very personal items and it would be nice to know if Margaret ever got the letter and how it came to be where it did nearly 50 years later. They must have meant a great deal to the couple at the time. They or their family might be very pleased to get them back."

He added: "We want to hear from anyone who knew the couple or the family and how we might get hold of them today."

Sgt Trump, who was originally from Alfred Place in Dorchester, sent the letter from Gower Street in London to his wife Margaret Joyce at 33 St Swithins Court in Bridport.

It is dated April 4 1955, and refers to their sons Paul and Graham, as well as his hope that they would be together soon.

The letter includes details of family life and his lodgings in London, but no indication of why he is in the capital or whether he is still in the army.

There are many pronouncements of how much he loves and misses his 'darling' Margaret and that he 'counts the days' until he is together again with his 'angel'.

The newspaper cuttings tell how Sgt Trump, who served in the Royal Corp of Signals, was wounded two weeks after the D-Day landings.

They indicate that he married Margaret Joyce Newbury, who was the daughter of Mr and Mrs C Newbury of Elwell Street in Upwey, soon after the injury.

Elizabeth Gibbons, from Nottingham, said a friend found the wallet in a rucksack at a car boot sale they attended together in their home city.

She added: "There was a very heartwarming letter from a man I assume was doing National Service.

"As I read the letter I felt I was intruding upon these people because it was a very moving letter. To someone these items may be family connections from the past."

Anyone who can help should call the Dorset Echo on (01305) 263465.