A Streatham woman got a welcome surprise last week when she came across a forgotten 19th century bible that had been gathering dust in her loft for 30 years.

Retired Shirley Scialanga, 74, of Edencourt Road, was having a clear out when she came across the leather-bound book which she first found in a restaurant cellar in Soho in the 1970s.

Now she is hoping it will net her a small fortune at auction to help fund her move to Italy later this year.

“I’ve had the bible for over 30 years but it wasn’t until I was having a sort out that I remembered it. I just hope I can get some money for it as the pound is so weak against the Euro at the minute I can’t afford to move," she said.