Honest people in a village in County Durham keep handing police large bundles of cash which are being mysteriously left in the streets.

Since 2014, 12 packages of £20 notes, totalling nearly £2,000, have been dumped at different locations in the former pit community of Blackhall Colliery.

The latest unusual find - which police say is the fourth bundle handed in this year - was on Monday.

Detective Constable John Forster, from Peterlee CID, said: "These bundles are always left in plain sight, such as on pavements, and discovered by random members of the public who've handed them in.

Image: Detective Constable John Forster has praised residents in Blackhall Colliery for handing in the money

"This could be the work of a Good Samaritan, but we would like to thank the residents who've shown incredible community spirit by handing the money in.


"The circumstances remain a mystery so we would welcome any information that will help us get to the bottom of these random incidents."

In order to solve the puzzle, police have interviewed local residents and businesses, including banks and the Post Office.

Officers have even carried out tests for fingerprints, but to no avail.

People with any information are urged to call 101 and ask to speak to DC Forster.

It is understood anyone handing in the cash could make a claim to keep it if it is not claimed by its owner.