The touching story of Paula Olga Alaska, who spent most of her life in institutions, has come to light as a result of renovation work at town centre offices.

Plasterers working in the loft of financial advisers Pollard and Smiles in Newgate Street uncovered a treasure trove of personal possessions which had lain undisturbed for almost 40 years.

It included diaries, notebooks, photographs and postcards, First World War medals and cuttings from local newspapers, the most recent dated May, 1970.

The material suggests that Miss Alaska was educated in London, but later lived at Bow Villa, Morpeth, formerly a home for 'troubled' girls.

She moved to another home in Belford before returning to Morpeth and a county council establishment, Springfield, in Kings Avenue.

The notebooks include occasions which were important to her – including the death of comedian Tommy Handley and the day a television was acquired for the Queen's Coronation in 1953.

Inquiries have revealed that Miss Alaska died aged 93, in 2003, in the care of Northumberland County Council, at The Mount in Morpeth, having previously lived at the Thomas and Mona Taylor Homes and the Sir Nicholas Garrow Homes for the Blind in Hepscott Park.

But mystery surrounds her earlier life and how she came to Morpeth.

She claimed to have been born at Christchurch, Bournemouth, but staff at the home were never able to trace a birth certificate.

The Mount is now closed, but Kathy White, a former carer at the home, remembers Paula, a retired laundry hand, well.

"She was a character and I loved her very much," she said.

"I was with her when she died and she went very quickly from heart failure.

"It was the way she would have wanted to go.

"She was a lovely lady and had a great sense of humour, but she was quite eccentric.

"Her past was a bit of a mystery. Some things that had happened to her were quite upsetting and I think she had a difficult early life, but she would never admit why, although she threw out a few hints.

"She gave the impression that she had been sent away from home and went to live with an aunt.

"She said her father was Canadian born, but we could never be certain that she had not made her name up.

"I don't think she had any surviving relatives; some years ago we tried to track things down but came up against a brick wall."

Nigel Bailey, former Manager at The Mount, said: "Paula was someone who preferred her own company, but she had lots of character, was very methodical and had a place for everything.

She had a lot of suitcases, so many that they wouldn't fit in her wardrobe and we had to store them in the loft at the home."

Mrs White said she thought that Paula might have asked a number of people to store things for her and this could explain the find at Newgate Street.

"It wouldn't surprise me if more of her suitcases came to light somewhere else in Morpeth," she said.

Steven Smiles, a director of Pollard and Smiles, said: "We have been intrigued by the find and would be interested to hear from anyone who knows anything else about Miss Alaska's life. They can call us on (01670) 504999."

When she died Miss Alaska left an estate of £880. After deductions for care fees and other costs the remaining £316.32 was bequeathed to Age Concern.