IN an age filled with e-mails, computers and mobile phones, the old-fashioned letter is starting to become a thing of the past.

But after attaching a hand written letter to a helium balloon and releasing it, one youngster is learning that sometimes, the old ways are sometimes the best.

Rafe Chapman, six, thought his balloon would only travel a few miles.

But he was shocked when he discovered he had been sent a reply to his letter – from school children nearly 600 miles away in Germany!

Rafe’s mum, Tracy, 39, couldn’t believe it travelled so far.

“He was ecstatic,” added Mrs Chapman, of Tern Road.

“He took it to school and showed it to all his friends and he can’t wait to write back.

“They were really pleased to share his excitement and his teacher thought it was brilliant.”

Rafe released the balloon at his great grandmother’s 80th birthday in Stowmarket last month. The balloon eventually reached the town of Dahme – which is about 75 miles north of Hamburg.

Rafe’s letter asked for the recipient to write back to him. He received a letter back from a group of school children in Dahme about two weeks after sending it.

Mrs Chapman added: “I just decided to do it on the day. There were lots of helium balloons and we thought it would be nice and memorable.

“I said it might reach Felixstowe but it was quite windy and they soon went off – it was all quite exciting.”

Rafe is now planning to write back to the students in Germany.

? What do you think? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or send an e-mail to starletters@archant.co.uk