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Doreen Speight now.

A collection of fascinating letters written by Ringo Starr to his girlfriend before he joined the Beatles have emerged for sale.

Ringo, who was then known as Richard Starkey, wrote of his experiences in a small rock 'n' roll band called Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.

He penned several notes about playing concerts at Butlins, going to bed late and enjoying lie ins, and how he saved up enough money to purchase an old Ford Zodiac.

In one fascinating message he tells his sweetheart that he was asked to join the Beatles and that she should go and buy their new single 'Love Me Do'.

He said: "I got a phone call asking me would I join the Beatles and i said yes and I left Rory.'

"I am doing very well with the new group we have a record out I hope you have herd (sic) it it is on Luxembury every night (also don't forget to buy it)."

At the time, his girlfriend had no idea the song would propel the group to stardom until it reached number one in the charts and they appeared on the BBC.

The letters were all written to Doreen Speight, now 70, who met Ringo when she was 16 at a Butlins in Pwllheli, Wales, in October 1961.

As neither of their families had a telephone they decided to swap addresses so they could write to each other after the holiday.

The young couple corresponded over dozens of letters but just five are in existence today, spanning from October 1961 to October 1962.