AN historian has unearthed the first unseen Sherlock Holmes story in over 80 years - which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote to help save a town bridge.

Walter Elliot, 80, found the 1,300-word tale starring the famous sleuth - and his sidekick Watson - in a collection of short stories sold as part of fundraising efforts by locals in Selkirk in the early 20th century.

The ''The Book o' the Brig'' was sold during a three-day event in 1904 to pay for a new bridge, two years after the old Wood Brig crossing the Ettrick was destroyed in a great flood.

The famed author - who loved visiting Selkirk and the surrounding area - contributed a tale before opening the final day.

Mr Elliot was given the 48-page pamphlet more than 50 years ago by a friend but more or less forgot about it until recently when he looked in the attic ahead of an upcoming local pop-up museum.

Now he has unearthed the rare papers, tied together with string and containing the story -'Sherlock Holmes: Discovering the Border Burghs and, by deduction, the Brig Bazaar' .

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

It includes references to Border colloquialisms and the song The Flowers of the Forest, about those who fell on the Flodden Field.

Mr Elliot said everyone in the town played their part in raising money and the bazaar raised £560 in two days alone.

"The Saturday was opened by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle," he said. "He had written a wee story about Sherlock Holmes and Watson and this was in the book.

"I can't remember how much they raised (in total) but they wanted it to be a carriage bridge but they didn't get quite enough for that, but they built an iron bridge and it's still there today.

"He really must have thought enough of the town to come down and take part and contribute a story to the book. It's a great little story."

Ann Treherne, chairman of the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre in Edinburgh, said the find was ''remarkable''.

She said the story may have been written in support of the writer's parliamentary campaign as Conan Doyle stood as a Unionist candidate for Westminster in the nearby Hawick Burghs constituency two years later.

She said: "I'm delighted to hear of this Sherlock Holmes story being unearthed, especially as it is peculiar to Scotland and the Border country.

"It is clearly written in the style of Arthur Conan Doyle and in particular that used in the many Sherlock Holmes stories that we all know and love.

"Arthur Conan Doyle ran for a seat in parliament for the burgh of Hawick in January 1906 and he would have been campaigning during 1905. "He may have seen an opportunity here, not only to help the townsfolk of Selkirk raise funds for their bridge, but also raise support for his own electoral campaign in nearby Hawick."

Conan Doyle's 1,339-word tale is about a journalist watching Holmes and Watson in conversation as the sleuth tells his sidekick he believes he is going "to the Border country".

After being told about a number of clues that gave his destination away, Watson admits he is indeed "going to Selkirk in aide of a Bridge" and Holmes wishes him well on his journey.

The book - around ten inches long and three inches wide with a soft brown paper cover - contained stories from local people, as well as the famous author.

Mr Elliot, a retired woodcutter, said: "I have no idea how many they made and sold. I've had this book for about 40 or 50 years.I must have got it from a friend because I can't remember buying it from anyone.

"I have no idea if it has ever been published - I've never seen it. I've always been interested in history and my family has always passed on stories and I suppose this was one of the stories that was passed down."

The booklet will be on show at the Cross Keys Selkirk Pop-up Community Museum from today, along with Mr Elliot's painting of the replaced bridge.