A MESSAGE in a bottle which travelled thousands of miles across the Atlantic intact has sparked a mystery which could be solved in the North-East.

The bottle was washed up on Summerleaze beach in Bude, Cornwall, earlier this week.

It contained a letter on blue lined writing paper, which was crisp, fragile and sun bleached, but the black writing on the top half was still clear and legible.

The message was written on December 18 last year by a young girl called Alexus, who was at the time was 12-years-old and visiting Atlantic City in New Jersey, USA.

In the letter she indicates she comes from the UK and lives in Durham.

The bottle was found by beach ranger Alan Coltart, who is employed by North Cornwall District Council to keep the beach in question clean.

Mr Coltart said: "This bottle has travelled for nearly a year across over 3,000 miles of Atlantic Ocean.

"The message requests that the finder reunites the bottle with its sender.

"Sadly, the exact contact details are illegible, but we would like to help the bottle travel its final 300 miles back to Durham."

Mr Coltart said it was not unusual for strange objects to be found on beaches, especially after high winds and stormy seas, which had been experienced in Cornwall at the start of the month.

Are you Alexus or do you know who she is? If so contact The Northern Echo newsdesk on 01325-505054.