A THANKFUL pensioner has praised the honesty of a man who returned her purse and the police who pulled out all the stops to help her.

Monica Swift (74) from Haydock, lost her purse, containing £54 and her house keys, in a St Helens town-centre store on Tuesday September 7.

Police immediately contacted Helena Housing and arranged for Mrs Swift's home locks to be changed. One PC even rang her bank to cancel her cards.

Two weeks later, the policeman telephoned Mrs Swift to tell her that a man, believed to be from Whiston, had handed her purse in, fully intact.

She said: "The police couldn't have been more helpful and I would like to send the gentleman who handed my purse in my sincere thanks".