Six-year-old Frances Hook has received belated birthday greetings from a couple in Belgium after releasing a helium balloon.

Frances, of Cote, near Witney, celebrated her birthday on Christmas Eve with helium balloons. Some were left over after Christmas, so her brother, Patrick, 15, wrote her name and address on one and they let the balloon float off from their garden.

Frances has now received a card from a Belgian couple called Michelle and Alida wishing Frances, a pupil at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Primary School, a belated happy birthday.

Her mother, Fiona, said: "They said they had been walking in woods in a place called Lessen 40 kilometres from Brussels when they found the balloon hanging in a tree. It was such a surprise."