At least three people in the small Japanese fishing port of Ishinomaki have received gold bars from a mystery benefactor through the post.

The town was devastated by the 2011 tsunami, and most of it has still not been rebuilt.

In total, the gold bars received so far are thought to be worth around $250,000.

The townspeople say they do not know who has sent the gold, but they hope to use it to restore the area.

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports from Tokyo.