KIND-hearted Vale folk have come up trumps after mean thieves stole a pensioner's purse, and trashed another pensioner's buggy.

As soon as Journal readers read of the plight of 82-year-old Mary Hitchinson from Evesham whose electric buggy was stolen, and 72-year-old Barbara Stephenson whose purse was stolen while shopping in Boots, they generously responded.

Mrs Stephenson's story was highlighted in our sister paper the admag last Friday. Her purse, which contained £70 cash, a £200 heating allowance cheque and a Switch card, was taken from her shopping trolley while in Boots in Evesham.

Mrs Stephenson, who lost her husband of 54 years to cancer said: "I lost my husband John 12 months ago, my dog eight weeks ago, my son had to be airlifted to hospital after an accident, I've lost three grandsons in my time, aged seven, one and 17, and another grandson was born with cystic fibrosis. This is the story of my life. I'm always worried about what's coming next.

A woman from South Littleton who does not wish to be named, said she read about what had happened to Mrs Stephenson and was so saddened that she had decided to give her £100.

Mrs Stephenson said: "I've seen so much kindness since this happened. People have stopped me in the street to talk to me about it and now this, it's very kind."

Mrs Hitchman has also been offered the loan of an electric buggy by Evesham's Shopmobility scheme, and a local company called Events Mobility, until she receives compensation from her insurance company.

She said: "That is a very kind of them, it will make an awful lot of difference and is a very nice gesture."

Following the two stories Sally Mills from Childswickham contact the Journal this week to thank an anonymous shopper at Safeways. She said: "I left my handbag, containing credit cards, mobile phone and photographs, in a shopping trolley on Monday evening. When I returned to Safeway to look for my bag it had gone but later I had a call from a woman who had found it, and all of its contents, and was on her way to hand it in at Safeway. I am very grateful to her, it just shows there are still honest people in the Vale."