ACTRESS Joanna Lumley has acclaimed a Gurkha who returned a woman’s purse containing nearly £500 as a shining example of why they should be allowed to stay in the country.

Speaking to The Northern Echo yesterday, Ms Lumley said the unknown Gurkha, believed to be based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, who handed in single mother Rebecca Taylor’s purse had shown the valuable contribution Gurkhas make to British society.

Miss Taylor had been travelling from Darlington to Richmond on the bus on Saturday, with £470 in her purse to pay her rent.

When she got to her destination and tried to pay for items in a shop, she realised her purse was gone.

“I rang the bus company and they told me a Gurkha had handed it in,” said the 17- year-old.

“I was so happy. It was really nice of him. He could have just taken it and no one would have known.”

Ms Taylor, who lives in the Yarm Road area of Darlington and has a five-month-old daughter, said she would support a change in the law to allow Gurkhas who retired before 1997 to stay in the UK.

“I would definitely support that,” she said.

She added that she would like to meet the Gurkha who handed in the purse to thank him personally. Miss Taylor’s story was held up by Avengers and Absolutely Fabulous star Ms Lumley as an example of the character typical of Gurkhas.

She said: “Gurkhas are known to be hard-working, loyal and intelligent. The skills they learn in the Army mean they make a valuable contribution to the British economy.”

Ms Lumley met Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday to discuss the issue of Gurkhas’ settlement rights.

After the meeting, she said: “He promised he would do all he can. I do trust the Prime Minister. I know him very slightly personally and I find him to be a man of integrity.

“I feel we have got the head man, the man at the top, the leader of our entire nation and I feel absolutely confident he is going to do the right thing for the Gurkhas.”

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said it had been a positive meeting and Mr Brown would look at Ms Lumley’s proposals in the next stage of the Government’s consideration of the issue.