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Girl's message in a bottle found 200 miles away

John Moore Close up of bottle with the words Message in a Bottle written on it in gold lettersJohn Moore
The bottle was found 200 miles from Ramsgate in The Netherlands

A message in a bottle sent out to sea by a young child has been found washed up 200 miles (322 km) away in The Netherlands.

John Moore helped his three granddaughters throw the bottles from the seawall at Ramsgate Harbour in Kent at the end of November.

They were found on 20 December by a beachcombing group in Noordwijk who contacted the grandfather and sent photos.

Mr Moore said nine-year-old Olivia was "really excited and enthralled" that her bottle had been found so far away.

John Moore Three bottles in the sea off Ramsgate harbourJohn Moore
Three bottles were thrown into the sea off Ramsgate harbour

Mr Moore had suggested getting his three granddaughters Jessica, Olivia and Rosie to launch a bottle each into the sea as "a project to keep them occupied".

Olivia's message read: "If you find my bottle please ring my granddad John."

Mr Moore told BBC Radio Kent: "The fact that it had gone up the North Sea and was found in Holland was really amazing."

Jos A group of beachcombers in The Netherlands sat around a table in a cafeJos
A group of beachcombers in The Netherlands found the bottle

Jos, who attends a beachcombing group in the coastal town in The Netherlands, found the bottle washed up on the beach and rang Mr Moore.

He said: "I have never found a message in a bottle before so it was quite a surprise."

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