A lollipop lady who “brings cheer to everyone” has been left overwhelmed after a random act of kindness by a stranger.

School crossing guard Elizabeth Harvey, who works on Captain’s Road near Gracemount High School in Edinburgh, was left shocked on Wednesday morning when a passer-by surprised her with a bicycle for her little girl Holly after it was heartlessly stolen.

“Elizabeth is that person who always waves and always smiles,” says Andy Noble, who surprised her with his gift.

“She’s been the lollipop lady for the area for a few years now and is such a lovely person. I’ve passed her for about a year and a half now but I stopped to talk to her properly at the weekend.

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“She told me that she had attended the school’s Children in Need charity night with her beautiful wee daughter but while they were inside some inconsiderate individual stole the child’s bike.”

Spurred on by a desire to help, Andy, who works as a personal fitness instructor, waited until his shift was over and went straight to the nearest bike shop to buy a brand new bicycle complete with pink flower decoration.

He popped it in the back of his van and kept a lookout for Elizabeth until he spotted her early on Wednesday morning.

Andy, from nearby Bonnyrigg in Midlothian, says: “I was waiting on her to ask if the school had done anything to retrieve it and she replied No.”

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“I told her to shut her eyes while I nipped to the back of my van. It was just a wee act of kindness.”

Andy says Elizabeth has been left overwhelmed by kind messages. Andy Noble

Andy, 28, posted a photograph of the delighted Elizabeth up on his Facebook page, an image which has since received more than 10,000 likes – many of which come from those who’ve seen the lollipop lady on her road.

“I love her x she is an amazing woman,” posted Margaret Ramsay.

“How lovely, I know her and she’s the nicest person you could meet,” added Andrea Muir.

Andy, who says he has been left equally overwhelmed by the attention his post has received, says Elizabeth has been “left in tears” by the many kind messages people have been leaving for her.

“I spoke to the headmaster of the school who has since said that her daughter’s bike has been found but it is all smashed up by whoever stole it,” he says.

“I’m just glad I was able to make the little girl and her mother happy. They seemed to have been having a wee bit of a tough time.”

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As Andy later posted on his page, it’s #JustTheLittleThingsInLife