It was a seven-year-old girl’s heartfelt plea to Santa for a new dolls’ house as her collection of Sindys had ‘nowhere to live’.

Dripping with excitement – and spelling mistakes – little Amy Finlayson carefully put it on her bedroom mantelpiece and tightly closed her eyes on Christmas Eve, 1985.

But as the night passed on, the crumpled note slipped behind the fireplace and went unseen.

Not that the delighted schoolgirl noticed, as Father Christmas delivered her big present the next day bringing years of childhood fun with her toys.

Now 26 years later, little Amy’s note has been found by the new owner of her old house, who tracked her down to hand over her festive request from more than a quarter of a century ago.

Ian Hunter, of Glenelim, in Church Stretton, was carrying out renovation work at his home when he discovered the letter.

Amy Finlayson, 33, who grew up at the house, wrote the letter to Father Christmas in 1985 when she was just seven years old asking for a Sindy house because her collection of dolls had ‘nowhere to live’.

The mother-of-one, who now lives in Bristol with her seven-year-old daughter, Violet, moved away from Glenelim when she was a teenager. Mr Hunt, 65, had been renovating Amy’s former bedroom earlier this month, and when he removed the mantelpiece the yellowing letter fell to the floor.

Mr Hunter, who moved in to the house five years ago with his wife, Norah, got in touch with another former resident of the property – Charles West – who knew Amy’s family name and tracked her down.

Amy was stunned this week when she was contacted and said: “I was contacted by Charles out of the blue asking if I was the Amy who lived in the property back in the 1980s. I had no idea why he was trying to get in touch so when he mentioned my letter had been found I was delighted, it was a lovely surprise.

“I had very fond memories growing up and I remember writing the letter to Father Christmas as if it was yesterday – I really wanted that Sindy house.

“I was over the moon when I ripped off the wrapping that morning. I thought at the time that the letter must have really worked with Father Christmas but I soon forgot about it because of how much fun I was having with my gift,” she added.

After finding the letter Mr Hunter contacted Church Stretton parish councillor Mr West, who lived at Glenelim from 1962 until Amy’s family moved in. Amy’s lost letter to Santa read: “Dear Father Christmas. Please will you bring me a Syndy (sic) house, and some furniture because I have lots of Syndys and lots of Syndy clothes but the poor Syndys have know where to live.

“So could you bring them a house thank you very much. Love from Amy xxxx.”

She kept her beloved Sindy house for about six years before moving to Paris as a teenager.

Mr Hunter, 65, moved into the house in 2006 with his wife Norah, also 65. Mr Hunter said: “I’m delighted for Amy, it is a very sweet letter.

Amy added: “My daughter Violet is seven and she has been writing her letters to Santa so she thinks it is really nice I got the letter back.”

By Anwen Evans