THE seasonal spirit is alive and well in Radcliffe, and kindness and generosity can spring from even the most brutal act.

Radcliffe Rotary Club demonstrated this when they presented 91-year-old mugging victim Gertrude Dockery with £100 to replace cash stolen from her in a violent assault.

The surprise presentation was made when Rotary president David Beesley visited Mrs Dockery at her home in Waverley Place.

He said: "We remembered Gertrude from the Rotary Christmas party we held so when we found out what had happened to her we were appalled and wanted to do something.

"We had a sincere wish to cheer her up and the money we have given her is from our traditional Santa's sleigh door-to-door collection." Mrs Dockery, who has three children, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren was delighted to accept the money.

"It really is very kind of them and I'd like to say thank you very much," said Mrs Dockery, who suffered two black eyes and a sore right knee when she was knocked to the ground in the attack.

"It has partly restored my faith in people," she added.

The mugging happened at 2.40pm in Lord Street on December 14 when she was making her way home to her warden-controlled flat. The thief pushed into the back of her and grabbed her bag which contained the money she had set aside to buy family Christmas presents.

Although the sprightly pensioner tried to hang on to her bag she was no match for the assailant who swung her round by the arm so that she fell face down to the floor.

She rewarded the lady who helped her home with a large floral display.

Mrs Dockery said she stil felt "a bit shaky" and was afraid to go out alone, but that did not stop her enjoying a pre-Christmas party and spending Christmas Day and Boxing Day with her son Colin and his wife in Blackpool.

Mrs Dockery's attacker was white, 5ft 10ins, aged between 18 and 25, slim, with fair short hair. He wore a beige sweatshirt and trousers. He escaped in a silver car with two other men. Contact Bury police on 856 8157 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.