Joy as missing �150 returned to Sidmouth couple

A SIDMOUTH nurse's faith in humanity has been restored after a large sum of money she lost over the Christmas period was returned to her by an honest man.

Carole and Royston Randell, of Connaught Road, have praised a Sidmouth man after he returned the �150 Carole lost when she was shopping in Sidmouth a few days before Christmas.

Carole, 57, said: "I took the �150 shopping with me to pay for my hairdo and to buy some meat. I should've put it in my purse but I'm always running around in the morning and I put it in the side pocket of my bag."

She visited a couple of places before going to Hartnell on Radway Place to buy some meat and it was then she realised the money had gone.

"I retraced my steps but to be honest I thought that is it," Carole said.

"My husband said there are some honest people around it but I had no faith at all. I thought someone will have a good Christmas and I hoped someone poor got it."

She reported it to the police but as the weeks passed they didn't hear anything.

Two weeks later they were contacted by the police telling them that a man had come across the money, and he personally delivered it to them.

Carole added: "He found the money in Tesco where I must have dropped it and waited around to see if anyone was looking for it but I must've already been and gone.

"He went to the police station but it was closed so he took the money on holiday to France with him for two weeks."

Royston, 66, to thank him for his honesty delivered an orchid to his house.

He said: "Since we offer private care within their own home for folk in Sidmouth, and sometimes come across people who are a little frail, or sad this incident has boosted our morale.

"And so in these gloomy economic times cheer up all, spring is here and there are still many, many good folk around.