A Newton Abbot woman, aged 92, who lost her purse Christmas shopping has had it returned, contents intact, thanks to a phone call from India.
Joan Jones of Prince Street says she is 'the luckiest woman in Newton Abbot' after an honest shopper handed her purse in to shop staff.
But in a bizarre twist, news about the find came from halfway around the world. The incident happened when Joan was shopping in Peacocks in Courtenay Street.
'I particularly wanted a little black bra to wear under my Christmas dress. Some of the stalls are quite low and I think when I bent forward my shoulder bag slipped off my shoulder and my purse must have dropped out.'
Minutes later she discovered it was missing while waiting to pay at the till.
'I had the biggest shock of my life. I had about £100 in there and all my cards.'
Meanwhile, Joan's daughter, Wendy Shaw, who works in the pre-press department at the Mid-Devon Advertiser, was enjoying a well-deserved break in southern India with husband Keith.
A perplexing message appeared on Keith's mobile from a Newton Abbot number they did not recognise. Deciding it must be urgent he called back.
To his surprise he found himself talking to the manager of Peacocks asking if he was ringing about the purse.
'I don't know anything about a purse, I'm in India,' replied a surprised Keith.
Wendy said: 'He deliberated on it for ages and thought perhaps it was about my mum, as she keeps his number in her purse. So I phoned her up.'
By now, Joan had reported the matter to police and cancelled all her cards. Being slightly deaf, it took a little while to understand what Wendy was on about, asking if she had lost a purse.
Joan said: 'I said, yes, I have but how do you know about it?
'Of course, it turned out the manager had gone through the bits of paper and found Keith's mobile number.'
Peacocks' manager Teresa Snell said: 'I didn't know I was ringing a number in India.
'I was having awful trouble trying to locate her. She was lovely, she bought us all a box of chocolates, we are just glad she found it.'
Joan had special thanks for the woman who handed her purse in.
'Whoever it was, I am eternally grateful to her. I really couldn't believe my luck. For an old lady of nearly 93 it's made this Christmas pretty special.'