We are baffled why it has turned up after all this time. It's better late than never

Driver Centre manager John Jones

Sent to a Mr R. Price by the British Chemical Company, the mail arrived at the former premises of shopkeeper Richard Price - although his High Street bakery closed in 1942.

Now home to recruitment centre Driver Hire, the old shop's curious present-day staff traced Mr Price's descendents.

The old-fashioned English note on the card read:

"Dear Sir(s), Our Mr Gwyn Thomas will have the pleasure of waiting upon you in a few days, when a reserve of your favours will be esteemed."

'Unbelievable'

Granddaughter Pam Meyrick, 66, said her grandfather died in 1970, aged 92.

"It is unbelievable that the postcard has only just arrived," she said.

"My grandfather would have been amazed. He would have said: 'Good gracious!'

The King George V stamp was a clue

"We will keep the postcard in the family now. But, unfortunately, I cannot tell you what the Birmingham Chemical Company wanted."

The company ceased trading in 1985, fifteen years after Mr Richards passed away.

Manager John Jones said: "It turned up out of the blue and was in very good condition - as if it had been tucked away somewhere for years.

"We are baffled why it has turned up after all this time. It's better late than never."

A spokeswoman for Post Office Counters said: "We are investigating but have no idea how such an old postcard could have been received by Driver Hire."