WANTING urgently to contact an old friend, Maureen McCartney did not know her new married surname. Nor did she know her friend s address, having only visited the home once before. So when widower Maureen, 72, of Burford Way, Hitchin, wanted to write a let

WANTING urgently to contact an old friend, Maureen McCartney did not know her new married surname.

Nor did she know her friend's address, having only visited the home once before.

So when widower Maureen, 72, of Burford Way, Hitchin, wanted to write a letter she decided to draw the postman a map - literally.

Armed with just the first name, the name of the town, Louth in Lincolnshire, and a roughly drawn map Maureen posted her letter at 3pm.

It arrived at her friend's address the next day.

Maureen said: "My friend Monica had remarried and I didn't know her new name. I needed to contact her to tell her my sister was ill.

"All I knew was where her bungalow was in Louth. So I wrote down her first name and her husband Sid's name and the town on the envelope.

"Then I drew the main road out of Louth with two roads coming off it and marked her bungalow with an X.

"I was amazed when Monica rang me the next day to say the letter had arrived."

Maureen was delighted with the swiftness of the delivery and also praised the postman for not throwing it in the bin.

"Monica has not been able to track down the postman who delivered it to thank him. I have written to the Post Office to say thank you. I felt it needed a thank you for such excellent service.