TOILET attendant Brian Mason got more than he bargained for when he paid £1 for a workwear jacket in a charity shop and found £400 wrapped up inside it.

The 57-year-old was gobsmacked by his find after he bought the jacket at No 8 in Pershore last Monday.

Mr Mason, of Farncombe Terrace on the town's Abbey Estate, had already decided to buy one of the jackets and so decided to try on another.

When he opened up the packaging, he said: "Four hundred pounds dropped on to my foot. It was packed flat and held together by two paper clips."

He handed in the cash to staff. "When I took it to the counter they were flabbergasted," explained Mr Mason, "They said 'it's very honest of you'.

"I said there was no question of me not handing it over." He added: "I couldn't have put it in my pocket."

He joked: "I've met a lot of people since who said 'you should have done'."

Mr Mason works for MITIE Cleaning, which is contracted to supply Wychavon District Council's toilet attendant services in towns including Pershore and Evesham.

Ray Steadman, general manager of No 8 and secretary of Pershore Theatre Arts Association, said he and his staff were trying to establish who might have left the cash in the packaging and whether they wanted the money returned.

"We're continuing to make inquiries to ascertain who it was," he explained.

"We have ascertained that these garments were put out for sale last Saturday.

"Our volunteers are talking to our customers and we're spreading the word that we have found this money within a garment."

Mr Steadman said it was not the first time cash had been found in clothing sold in the shop.

"On the first occasion, some months ago, we found £40 - in two £20 notes - inside the pocket of a gent's suit," he explained.

"On that occasion, we managed to find who the owner of the suit was and return the £40 to him."

He added: "I think Mr Mason's honesty is absolutely commendable."