A MISSING photograph of great sentimental value has been returned to its rightful owner.

It was found by Mrs Brenda Starkey outside Bury General Hospital and, following an article in last week's Bury Times, it has now been claimed.

The photograph was of John "Jack" Austen and was taken when he was serving in the RAF during the war.

His daughter, Mrs Judith Pilley, who lives in Malvern Avenue, Bury, said: "I got a big surprise when I opened the paper and saw my dad."

She had taken her mother, who had the photograph in her bag, to the hospital's eye clinic the day before the picture was found.

"We are very grateful that Mrs Starkey took the trouble to hand it in as it is one of my favourite photographs of my dad."