Piaf love letter goes under hammer

A letter written by Edith Piaf to a Greek actor which includes the line "I love you like I have never loved" is going under the hammer in Athens.

The French singer wrote the passionate plea in 1946, just two days after she met Dimitris Horn at a performance in the city.

Reuters reports that the letter, which reads "don't let my heart die", was penned while Piaf was dating French actor and singer Yves Montand.

Greek art collector and auctioneer Petros Vergos said: "She said she would give it all, that she needed him. The whole letter is passion and desperation. No woman has ever said such things to me."

A subsequent telegram from the star to Horn and a programme from her performance at Athens will also be auctioned at the sale on Friday.

Piaf died of cancer in 1963, aged 47.