A letter written by Charlotte Bronte to a fan of her classic novel Jane Eyre has sold at auction for twice the estimate.

The note, in which the novelist thanks pharmacist David Waldie for his praise, sold for £24,000.

A spokesman for Lyon and Turnbull in Edinburgh, where the letter was auctioned, said: “We were very pleased with the result. It is a very short letter but not many by Charlotte Bronte come up for sale and it is rare to find one containing a reference to Jane Eyre.

“It was sold to a manuscript autograph dealer in Britain, so hopefully will remain in this country.”

The letter, dated January 19, 1853, was sent to Mr Waldie, of Linlithgow, West Lothian, who had written to Charlotte after being impressed by Jane Eyre.

The novel was published in 1847, under the pseudonym Currer Bell.