Sidmouth coin riddle solved

THE mystery person who found a novel way to persuade people to spare their loose change has shed some light on his secret actions. Last week we reported that a wishing rock painted with YOUR CHANGE recently appeared in the River Sid near the forge footb

THE mystery person who found a novel way to persuade people to spare their loose change has shed some light on his secret actions.

Last week we reported that a 'wishing rock' painted with YOUR CHANGE recently appeared in the River Sid near the forge footbridge.

A man was spotted collecting the loose change tossed in by people crossing the bridge into Millford Road.

This week the Herald received a letter from the person in question who signed off as 'The Stone Painter'.

In the letter he explains: "Some three months back, a regular of The Swan, in Mill Street, lost a pound coin off the bridge over the ford, but wouldn't get wet feet for only a pound, so there it stayed; until I painted a large grey stone with the words 'THANK YOU', and secretly exchanged this with the coin.

"In time, this stone was washed down stream one stormy night. So about a month back, I placed another stone with the words 'YOUR CHANGE' with two coins attached just to rekindle speculation.

"So it was with amazement that on crossing the bridge a week later, I saw several coins in the river around the stone. These I recovered and gave them to the landlady of The Swan to put in the Sidmouth Lifeboat collection box. With the generosity of the people of Sidmouth, long may this fun continue."

You never know, the wishing rock may even become a permanent landmark in the town!