A PENSIONER who left her handbag in the back of a taxi after an evening out thought that was the last she had seen of it.

But the following day the relieved 80-year-old was re-united with the bag, containing vital medical papers, thanks to the honest, sharp-eyed driver.

And the woman, who comes from the Windle area but prefers to remain anonymous, has contacted the the Star to thank the driver, whom she knows only as Brian.

She said:"After visiting the St Helens Stroke Club at Windle Pilkington House on Tuesday, July 25 I phoned A to B Taxis as usual to get a car home. But it wasn't until much later that I realised my handbag was missing."

The grandmother-of-three continued: "I had been carrying more than one bag and I already had the fare and my house key ready before I got into the taxi so I didn't need to look in my bag for anything. It was only later on at home that I realised I had left it somewhere and I was really upset. I suffer from Parkinson's Disease and heart problems and there were important medical papers in the bag."

When she contacted the company the next day no-one there knew anything about the missing bag and she feared the worst. However, she left her details and just an hour later, she received a visit from the driver who had taken her home, returning her bag.

The delighted pensioner added: "You hear so much about dishonest people these days that I felt I had to let you know that there are still some honest people left in the world. I would like to thank Brian very much for returning my bag -- I am very grateful.