An Ely councillor was "shocked and delighted" to receive a hand-written birthday card from Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

East Cambs Councillor Bill Hunt said the surprise card was hand-delivered to him by his son Tom Hunt, who is MP for Ipswich, on the day he turned 76.

"I was very pleased because it's not often you get a card from the Prime Minister," said the Stretham ward councillor.

Ely Standard: East Cambs Councillor Bill Hunt with his birthday card from Prime Minister Boris JohnsonEast Cambs Councillor Bill Hunt with his birthday card from Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Image: TOM HUNT)

"It wasn't a standard one, etiher - it was quite personalised," he added.

The card reads: "To Bill, happy birthday and best wishes" and added "thanks for lending us your prodigiously gifted son".

The special card is currently sat on Bill's mantlepiece - but he plans to frame it in the near future.

"I don't suppose I'll get one every year but I just think it's rather lovely that the man's got a sense of humour and can turn off for a couple of minutes."

To celebrate his big day, Bill and his son took a nine-hour voyage from Ely to Huntingdon on his boat.

MP Tom Hunt said: "My dad got a birthday card from someone he wasn’t expecting. Very flattered with the comments."