A STUDENT who was left stranded when she lost her purse has thanked the unknown person who later handed it in – without removing any of its contents.

Shannon Peters, 22, said she would like to find out who the person was to thank him or her personally and hopes that her experience encourage others to do the same.

Ms Peters, a fashion journalism student at Sunderland University, caught the Number 21 Go North East bus from her home in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, at 8.30am on Wednesday (March 25) to get a train in Durham.

She was on her way to a work experience placement at The Northern Echo.

Ms Peters said: “I got off bus to buy a train ticket in Durham and realised my purse wasn’t there.

“I knew instantly that I had left it on the bus.

“I went to the bus stop on the opposite side the road and waited for a couple of buses to see if it was there, but it wasn’t.

“I called the Go North East office and they told me go back at 12.30pm. I’d be stranded in Durham for a few hours, so got the taxi back home, where I had money to pay for it.”

Ms Peters delighted to learn later that her purse had been handed in.

She said: “When I got my purse, my credit cards, my cash and my house keys, absolutely everything was still there.

“It is a shame they never took a name of whoever handed it in. I would like to like to whoever it was personally and to encourage it as well because I know a lot of people wouldn’t – I thought someone would take it or at least take the cash out of it, or something.”

If you picked up the purse contact The Northern Echo 01325 505064.