Mystery fan shocks Dudley busker after dropping £250 in guitar case
Busker Bradleigh Aston is used to shoppers giving him their spare change - but he received quite a surprise when a woman handed him a donation to the tune of £250.
The 18-year-old was singing in Dudley High Street when he was handed the generous gift by a passer-by.
The musician, who spends his weekends busking in the town centre, says he has been taken back by the woman's generosity.
Her identity is not known and despite him putting appeals on Facebook and Twitter in a bid to thank her he has been unable to track her down.
He received the cash after appearing on the front page of the Express & Star earlier this month.
Bradleigh, from Lower Gornal, said: "Since appearing on the front page of the paper I have had a lot of people around Dudley recognising me.
"People have been walking past me saying 'Happy Christmas Brad, have a good one.' or 'You are that busker from the paper.' it has been a bit mad.
"The day after I was on the front page I was busking and a woman came up to me and asked for my business card which I gave to her and she walked away.
"A little while later she came back and put a plastic tub into the compartment of my case and said: 'Look after that and have a great Christmas.' and walked away again.
"When I opened the tub up, there was £250 cash in it, I was so shocked I did not know what to say.
"I have tried so hard to get hold of her to say thank you, but I am yet to hear from her.
"I would love to be able to thank her properly.
"I have not spent the money yet but I am thinking of spending it on recording equipment," he said.
Bradleigh recently came 13th place in the nationwide Brand New Artist 2015 Awards competition. The competition was run by record label Negart Records.
He said: "It was brilliant to come within the top 15, it was out of 100 artists so I cannot complain.
"The top five get to take part in a televised festival and the top 15 get to be part of a compilation album next year.
"I worked so hard during the competition to push myself, I had posters around Dudley and posted on my social media sites, the support from the community has been great.
"Because of working so hard, the competition sent me an email asking me to taking part in both, I am so thrilled to be given this opportunity," he said.
