A mother was overwhelmed by a teenager’s kindness after she returned her disabled daughter’s handbag – that had more than £700 and an iPhone in.

When Barbara Johnson received a phone call on Wednesday, the last thing she expected to hear was that somebody had found her daughter’s handbag and wanted to return it to her.

Her daughter Lorraine Peerless, 50, who has multiple sclerosis, was on her way to do Christmas shopping when her sister and carer dropped the bag trying to get her wheelchair into a taxi.

Leanne Hammond, a pregnant 18-year-old mother, found the bag on the street and was desperate to return it to the owner.

Miss Hammond, of Chapel Way, Bedmond, said: “I wanted to get the handbag back to its owner as soon as possible – I can’t imagine what it must feel like to lose that amount of money.

“The money was in an envelope in the handbag and I could tell it was Christmas money; I knew they must have been saving for months and months and thought I should get it back to them as soon as I could.

“I waited for someone to call the phone and managed to get in touch with Barbara. She was so thankful; I don't think she could believe it had happened."

Mrs Johnson said: “I really couldn’t believe it when I got the phone call - what a truly wonderful girl Leanne is; I can’t praise her enough.

“She could have had a great Christmas with that money, but she gave it back. We are extremely grateful and happy – she’s one in a million.

“Young people often get a lot of stick so I think it’s about time a young woman got some well-deserved praise.”