DOES anyone recognise either of the mystery people in these pictures - are they a relative, friend or someone with a familiar face?

This is the question being asked by York 'detective' Fred Battensby, of Osbaldwick, whose sister, Florence, discovered them slotted into the back of an old picture frame that he had lying around his house.

The sepia photos came to light two weeks ago when Florence was re-framing some of the family pictures at her home in Leeds.

She said: "They were hidden behind the cardboard backing in the frame and I was quite intrigued as to who they were.

"I kept them in a drawer for a couple of weeks before I gave them to Fred to take back to York with him.

"I thought that they might be precious to somebody, as old photos often are."

Fred said: "It would be nice to find out who the people in the photos are and I immediately thought that the best way of undertaking this 'detective work' would be to give them to the Evening Press.

"I must have bought the frame years ago in a jumble sale in York and probably thought no more about it until Florence gave me the photos.

"I think it might have had a summer scene picture in when I bought it, because that's the sort of thing I like."

The photo of the curly-haired child, who is sitting on what looks like a Roman pillar, was taken by a Fred Gould, of Aldershot. It is not dated and there is no writing on the back of it to give any clues as to who the child could be.

The photo of the dapper young man was taken at Geoffrey's Modern Studios Ltd, which was based at 4 Fossgate in York.

It is dated March 23, 1940, and on the back is the inscription "Billy at 19."

If anyone has any more information as to the identity of the mystery models in the photos, call Natalya Wilson at the Evening Press on 01904 653051.

Updated: 11:44 Wednesday, August 15, 2001