JILLY Cooper is back in touch with the mystery woman who features in her latest bestseller Pandora - thanks to the Evening Advertiser.

Moira Brown, 62, from Meadow Road near Barnfield, saw Jilly's appeal in the paper and called immediately.

She said: "I am so touched that she went to all this trouble to find me. It was quite a shock to say the least."

Jilly got chatting to Moira on a train and their conversation proved inspirational for the romance she was writing.

Moira said: "Jilly asked if she could use my story in her book. I said 'of course,' but didn't think anything would come of it."

A few months ago she finally got round to reading Pandora and was amazed to see her tale in print, along with an acknowledgement to a "delightful and elated woman she met on a train in Swindon."

So Moira wrote a thank you letter, which Jilly put in such a safe place she can't find it.

"I didn't even know her full address, so I just put 'Jilly Cooper, the last house in the village, Bisley, Stroud,' Moira added.

"Even if it did arrive, I thought she must have a million other more important things to read."

But Jilly, 66, who lives in Bisley, Stroud, with her husband Leo, lurcher Hero and five cats, was so taken with Moira she wanted to thank her in person. So she contacted the Advertiser which resulted in an appeal for Moira to come forward last Thursday.

The episode in Pandora is based on the experience of Moira's daughter, Beverly.

Moira said: "I told Jilly all about Beverly's partner, Andy, who longed to be married before he hit 40. So Beverly left a note in their local pub for him to be at York register office at 4pm if he fancied tying the knot. We were all dressed up waiting, so it's a good job he turned up."

Thrilled with the romantic set-up, Jilly adapted it for Pandora. Instead of a man, who wanted to wed a woman, the same scenario happens to a beautiful girl called Emerald.

Moira now hopes to update Jilly on her daughter's marriage.

She said: "We are going to meet for lunch and have a good gossip. Beverly is still blissfully happy with Andy. Who knows, it could be the start of another novel."

Thrilled to be reunited with Moira, Jilly is looking forward to the occasion. She said: "I am over the moon. It's the perfect fairytale ending. She was such a lovely lady and I can't wait to continue our conversation."