GRATEFUL Allen Snaith has been counting his lucky stars after his Christmas was saved from the local tip.

When the 49-year-old electrician told wife Vivienne to throw away his old work-trousers he forgot about his wallet in one of the pockets.

By the time he realised the mistake his wallet, complete with his Newcastle United season ticket and credit cards, was already en route to the tip in a bin lorry.

But last Saturday, as Mr Snaith panicked he wouldn't be able to finish buying presents for his family in time for Christmas, the dad-of-one was told his cash, credit cards and season ticket had all been found.

Helpful landfill workers from Gateshead Council had rifled through the rubbish and plucked it out for him.

According to Mr Snaith, who works away from home at Heathrow two weeks at a time, the goodwill gesture made his family's Christmas.

He said: "It was brilliant. I can't believe someone found it. When they gave it back it was in exactly the same condition as I'd left it.

"I only had £40 cash in there, but there were both of my credit cards. We still had loads of shopping to do for Christmas, all of the food.

"It wasn't the end of the world, but cancelling cards is the last thing you want to be doing when you're trying to get ready for Christmas "I was so happy when they gave it back to me. I don't know who, or how they found it, I certainly left them some money for a good Christmas drink."

When he returned to his home in Garth Crescent, Winlaton, Gateshead, late on Friday night he gave his old combat trousers to his wife to throw out.

Mrs Snaith, also 49, said: "Normally I'd check the pockets but my head was so full of getting ready for Christmas. The next morning when he woke up he went to get his wallet but it wasn't there.

"I said 'where was the last place you had it?' And he said 'In my combats.' We both knew straight away and he ran out of the house and got in his car."

He managed to catch up with the rubbish wagon, only to be told it was about to empty at a landfill site in Springwell.

But on racing down there, the desperate couple were re-directed to the Shearlegs Road depot in Newcastle.

"I was so worried, I had to find it," Mr Snaith recalled.

"My season ticket was actually what I was most worried about. It would have been so much hassle trying to get in the ground without the next day.

"I'm amazed they found it. Someone must've rummaged through all of the rubbish. It can't be a very nice job, but I'm so grateful.

"I didn't bother getting the trousers back" he added.

Joanna Carslake, customer services manager for Gateshead Council said: "This really was a team effort. When Mr Snaith's wife rang in a panic we told her we would do everything we could to get the wallet back.

"Everyone knew that losing his pay packet and season ticket, especially at this time of year would have ruined their Christmas.

"The bin wagons had already been round and taken the rubbish to the tip.

"We rang the site straight away and a group of lads went down to the tip to rake through the rubbish. Amazingly they found the trousers and the wallet was still in the pocket, with everything inside.

"Everyone was really pleased that Mr Snaith got the wallet back and it was great to be able to help someone. He was definitely very lucky."