Undiscovered poems written by J.R.R. Tolkien have been uncovered in an Abingdon school magazine from 1936.

The work of The Lord of the Rings author was found by the principal of Our Lady's Abingdon school after searching through old copies of the school's annual magazine.

Two poems were found titled The Shadow Man - an earlier version of Tolkien's Adventures of Tom Bombadil - and a Christmas poem titled Noel.

Our Lady's Abingdon principal Stephen Oliver was prompted to look into the archives after an American Tolkien scholar, Wayne G. Hammond, had seen a list of his poetry including two pieces in The Abingdon Chronicle.

Mr Oliver said: "At first we couldn’t find the 1936 edition and referred Mr Hammond to the archives of the Sisters of Mercy in London.

"Then, while preparing for an event for former pupils of the school, we uncovered our own copy and I saw the two poems Mr Hammond had been looking for.

"My excitement when I saw them was overwhelming.

"I am a great Tolkien fan and was thrilled to discover the connection with the school.

"As a writer myself, I feel privileged to have been part of the discovery of these lost works."

It is thought that Tolkien had a connection with the school while living in Northmoor Road, Oxford, during which time he went on to write The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.