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Staff from Surrey police and Surrey Heath Borough Council have raised £300 for a Camberley woman who had her Christmas spending money stolen as she helped a woman who had collapsed at a cashpoint.

Kathleen Boakes, 82, who lives in York Road, went into her bank on the High Street in Camberley just after 1pm on December 4 to withdraw £300 for her Christmas food shop.

She was distracted and left her money on a side when a woman behind her fell down. By the time she went to retrieve her purse, it had gone.

An investigation took place but the offender could not be identified.

Her plight was recognised by PC Dale Hathaway, a Camberley town beat officer, and PC Gary Martin. Both took Mrs Boakes and her husband, Freddy home to recover from the ordeal.

PC Hathaway then decided to ask his colleagues and staff at the borough council for a contribution to a collection, so he could return the £300 to Mrs Boakes. The collection raised just over £422, with the excess cash being donated to charity.

PC Hathaway said: “She was overwhelmed, extremely happy and very shocked the police and the council had chipped in to give her money back. It made her Christmas.

“For somebody to lose that money just before Christmas, I felt they deserved to get it back. She was really pleased to get the money so they are not out of pocket.”

The extra cash will be donated to Meals on Wheels in Surrey Heath, which will mean 29 people will be able to enjoy a Christmas dinner.

PC Hathaway added: “One of our elderly residents had cancelled his Christmas dinner from Meals on Wheels because it was too expensive.

“The money we have donated will mean that he, along with 28 other elderly residents, will be able to have a Christmas dinner delivered after all. I am so amazed and impressed by how generous people have been – this kind of story really does restore your faith in humanity.”

PC Hathaway even called Mrs Boakes the morning after the theft to find out how she was and how she had slept.

She said: “Dale and Gary brought us home and stayed with us until I was calm. The police have been absolutely wonderful, all of them.”

The money was returned to Mrs Boakes on Monday, in time for Christmas Day.

She added: “When PC Hathaway and his colleague came round to give us the money I just couldn’t believe it. I was speechless. It made me feel so special and I just wanted to cry. I couldn’t believe that two busy police officers would take that much time to raise the money for us. I was on my way to do my Christmas shopping when the money was taken, and for them to organise a collection to give us the money back is like a fairytale.”