Lost Sherlock Holmes story discovered – eknazar

The tale is part of a 1904 book of short stories called 'The Book o' the Brig'

Book was written to raise money to build a new bridge in Selkirk, Scotland

Arthur Conan Doyle visited the area often and decided to help locals' effort

48-page pamphlet was sold at three-day fundraiser, attended by the author

Two-and-a-half-page story is about detective and Watson's visit to the town

Walter Elliot, 80, found it in his attic after forgetting about it for 50 years An unknown Sherlock Holmes story written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for a fundraising sale as been unearthed after lying in an attic for almost 50 years. The 1,300-word tale starring the famous detective is part of a book of short stories created to help raise money to build a new bridge in the Scottish town of Selkirk after it was destroyed in 1902.

The famous author - who visited the area often - decided to help locals by contributing to the 'Book o' the Brig', which was sold at the three-day bazaar two years later.

Walter Elliot, 80, was given the 48-page pamphlet by a friend more than 50 years ago and had forgotten about it until recently after looking in his attic.

The two-and-a-half page story, titled 'Sherlock Homes: Discovering the Border Burghs and, by deduction, the Brig Bazaar', is about the sleuth and Watson's trip to the town.

It is believed the story - about Holmes deducing Watson is going on a trip to Selkirk - is the first unseen Holmes story by Doyle since the last was published over 80 years ago.

He was prompted to write the tale after the town was struck by a great flood in 1902 and the town's Wood Brig crossing the Ettrick in the Scottish Borders was washed away.

The great-grandfather from Selkirk, who found the book tied together with string, said: 'In Selkirk there was a wooden bridge that was put up some time before it was flooded in 1902.

'The town didn't have the money to replace it so they decided to have a bazaar to replace the bridge in 1904.

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