THE granddaughter of a 92-year-old woman is thanking the kind bin men who gifted her flowers and chocolates after the death of her husband of 71 years.

Mary and Bill Dixon shared a wonderful life together in Eccleston – never spending a day apart in 71 years, until his death aged 96 earlier this month.

It’s been a sad loss for the family and for Mary in particular, then following an incident the other day their granddaughter Catherine Farrell felt compelled to thank kind strangers who put a smile back on her nan’s face.

A recent picture of Mary and BillA recent picture of Mary and Bill (Image: A recent picture of Mary and Bill)

Catherine said: “My granddad did the bins, everyone has jobs in a household and his was to always sort the rubbish and put it all out and when he died my nan went out to sort it all and got overwhelmed at the realisation really that he wasn’t there to do it anymore.

“The bin men knew of my granddad he’d wait for them to empty the bins and was pleasant etc so when they saw her the other day they asked if she was OK and where Bill was and she broke down telling them he was no longer with us.

“Bless them, one of them asked her if he could hug her and they hugged and said that they would help sort her rubbish for her and not to worry.

“She was made up at the kindness off them just with that but around 30 minutes later the three men came back around in the wagon after they finished their route with a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates for her.

“It seems like nothing, but she’s been so sad after my granddad died, they have never been apart for the 71 years they were together. They received a letter from Queen Elizabeth II on their 60th wedding anniversary and a letter from King Charles III last year for their 70th wedding anniversary.

The flowers gifted to MaryThe flowers gifted to Mary (Image: The flowers gifted to Mary)

“I just want to thank those lads so much because they put a smile on her face after a tough few weeks, it seemed like a small thing to them maybe but it meant the world to her and to all the family.

“My nan wanted them to get praise as bin workers often hear nothing but criticism but these men were just so kind to someone they didn’t really know and it means so much.

“Their names were Chris, Craig and Kyle.”

Catherine added: "After this week of horrendous news in Southport and the riots we thought it was nice to show that kind people do exist."