STAFF at a Burnley museum were baffled after a job reference written 84 years ago mysteriously arrived in the post.

Employees at Queen Street Textile Museum are now intrigued to find out more about the letter, written on notepaper bearing the Queen Street Manufacturing Company header.

The note details a reference for Mrs Mary Hargreaves.

Assistant keeper Jen Kaines said it could have been posted to the mill as a result of someone having a clear out or going through a relatives possessions after they had died.

She said: "The reference was on Queen Street Mill official paper, so it could be they decided to post it back to the museum."

There is not a lot known about the building's history around that time so workers at the museum were excited when they received the document through the post days before they were due to re-open for the new season.

Jen said: "Imagine my surprise as I opened the post and came across this wonderful reference. It's similar to a job reference nowadays.

"It's really unusual as we have very few items relating to Queen Street Mill's history before 1918 when the mill was damaged by fire. Although the machines survived, only a small number of documents remain from that time so we know very little about the history before the fire.

"The museum is extremely grateful to whoever sent this item and would love to know more about it. If anyone knows anything about this reference, the lady, or if you were the person who sent it to Queen Street Textile Museum please contact us. We hope whoever has had this document may know about the history and even have more memorabilia from that time."

The reference was written by Mr W Burrows, the company secretary at the mill in 1918.

He wrote: "I have known her personally all her life and can faithfully say that her general character and conduct has been exemplary and I have never known her to do a mean act. She has always been a total abstainer."

The document is now on display as part of the collection in the museum but will only be on show for a limited time.

Jen said: "It seems to be a carbon copy so it could fade badly if we keep it out for a long time. We'll display it at regular intervals and it'll go on the website we're developing.

"We have share certificate books all dated 1918 but nothing before that. We were lucky it arrived in one piece because it was folded in three and is starting to tear."