Letters sent between a famous former Prime Minister and a long-serving local newspaper editor have been discovered during a house clearance.

The correspondence shows an apparent mutual respect between former PM David Lloyd George and James Reid, editor of the Dumfries and Galloway Standard from 1919 to 1954.

One telegram sent during the second world war congratulates the paper on its 100th birthday, reports the Standard.

“I hope it will go from strength to strength championing the cause of freedom, liberty and justice with the same spirit of independence and courage that it has shown for so many years under the able and distinguished editorship of my old friend Mr James Reid” – D Lloyd George.

Mr Lloyd George was Prime Minister for six years from 1916 and the letters are dated between 1934 to 1943.