A British pensioner may have found an unreleased Beatles song and unique studio material on cassette tapes given to her by a family friend.

Mrs Bowden, 64, of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, was given three tapes by the late Dominic Dross, a die-hard Beatles fan whom she "followed them wherever they went". The tapes have been left in a drawer at her home for years. According to Mrs Bowden the tapes contain known Beatles numbers and an unreleased song called Watching Rainbows, as well as the band talking and laughing during practice sessions. She said Mr Dross was allowed to sit in on these sessions. Beatles spokesman Geoff Baker said today that he was keen to hear the tapes, but thought it unlikely they would reveal anything new. Mr Baker said: "If it's legitimate, and it might not be, Apple would be keen to hear it in order to decide if it is unique." But he said that if they were recorded at Beatles sessions at Abbey Road, then they would be the property of Apple or EMI. Mr Baker said he had not heard of Watching Rainbows, but it could be a working title.