A heart-warming tribute to one of Haworth's most famous figures has been sent by a Japanese admirer.

But the object of Akemi Taguchi's affections is not one of the Bront sisters who lived in the village.

The interpreter and English teacher penned her tribute to a 15-year-old black and white cat called Thomas.

Until his death last year the animal was a regular visitor to the Bront Parsonage Museum and Haworth Tourist Information Centre.

He was loved by residents as well as many of the tourists who visit the Brontland shrines each year.

During his 12 years visiting the Parsonage Museum he met many famous people, including Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Akemi sent the letter to "Gerry Hustler (Thomas's owner), Haworth", but did not know the exact address.

The envelope was instead delivered to Haworth station on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Railway spokesman Jim Shipley suspects the Post Office believed the letter was for another famous Thomas.

Thomas the Tank Engine visits the railway twice a year and many of his toys are on sale in the station shop.

The letter was this week forwarded to the Bront Parsonage Museum, where staff promised to pass it to Mr Hustler.

Akemi met Thomas the cat when she spent time in Haworth three years ago while studying at Nottingham University.

She says she was greeted outside the museum by Thomas after she had walked up the "fascinating and lively" Main Street. She writes: "I was charmed by the cat and picked it up. It seemed to like me as well. It was as if it gave the warmth of life to the museum, which looked somewhat lonely."

On her return to Japan, Akemi began corresponding with museum shop manager Stephanie Angus, who told her more about Thomas.

Akemi says: "The life in Haworth which she tells me, has warm simplicity and reminds me of the Bronts' days." Akemi was devastated to discover last autumn that Thomas had been put to sleep after contracting cancer.

She prefers to remember the cat sleeping in his own chair at the Tourist Information Centre, in Main Street. She says: "It makes me imagine a large-hearted and peaceful community, which is disappearing in Japan.

"People of Haworth may have been pleased with the 'fairytale' which Thomas performed every day."

Akemi still has a postcard from Stephanie in which "pretty little Thomas" is curled up by the museum on a sunny day, with daffodils waving in the breeze.

She says: "The Bront family would praise him for his innocent contribution to the village."