Napoleon's hair found at Sir Walter Scott's former home

A lock of Napoleon's hair has been unearthed during a visit by a TV antiques show to the former home of Sir Walter Scott in the Borders.

The historic item was contained in a small handwritten note at Abbotsford House near Melrose.

The hair was found by the Antiques Road Trip team during studies of a blotter book which had belonged to Napoleon.

Jason Dyer of the Abbotsford Trust said it showed the "importance of preserving this wonderful home and its contents".

The hair was rediscovered as one of the show's antiques experts, Anita Manning, and Mr Dyer examined the blotter book which had been on show in the library.

It contained a small handwritten note dated 8 November 1827, written to Sir Walter Scott from a Mr Dalton.

In the note, Mr Dalton explained that the lock of hair was given to him by Lt Col Elphinstone who served under Wellington, and that he believed it would be of great interest to Scott who was famed for his passion for collecting.

The blotter, which is in an extremely fragile condition, the note and hair have now been removed from Abbotsford and are being examined by a team of conservation experts.

They will go on show again to the public once that work has been completed.....