Christmas cheer as robbery victim donation is made

In the season of goodwill and festive cheer a kind-hearted Good Samaritan has helped to make an elderly lady's Christmas a happy one.

Mary Cambridge, who is 92 and lives in Hopton was shopping at the Morrisons supermarket in Diss when she was the victim of a distraction theft.

However after reading the story about Mrs Cambridge's incident in the Mercury in November, a male pensioner donated the £100 that was stolen from her purse during the incident.

The do-gooder, a 71-year-old man who is an ex-Londoner and lives in a village near Diss, said the story about Mrs Cambridge - who had spoken to a man who was asking her for information about a mixer and soon after discovered her bag, containing money and a bank card, had been taken - had stayed in his head. The compassionate man, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: 'The news item stuck in my mind - I could imagine how I'd react if it happened to me, that awful sinking feeling, and just wanted to cheer her up for a bit.'

Mrs Cambridge said at the time she was shocked about what happened to her but at the end of the day she was grateful that nobody was hurt. She added: 'I would just like to thank this anonymous gentleman. I can't thank him enough.'

And in another sign of Christmas cheer and kindness, Mrs Cambridge's local church, the High Street Chapel in Hopton, donated money to her as a gift.

However Mrs Cambridge said she did not feel she could keep the money and has donated it to charity.

She added: 'I've been overwhelmed by the kindness shown to me by many people, including Norfolk Police and just everyone.'

Norfolk Police played a role in alerting Mrs Cambridge to the donation that had been sent into the Mercury's office on Mere Street by the male pensioner.

Have you got a story of goodwill to tell us? Email rebecca.murphy@archant.co.uk