Hunt for Cannock Good Samaritan who found purse

It contained £100 in cash, her driving licence and a variety of gift vouchers – but most importantly a photograph of Miss Hill and her partner Gary Read when they first met at the tender age of 13 more than 20 years ago.

But, in an act of heart-warming charity, shortly afterwards a stranger appeared at her door, having sought out Miss Hill's address, and handed over her wallet complete with all its contents.

Mr Read, left dumbfounded, merely shook the man's hand and thanked him before the Good Samaritan returned to his car and drove away.

The couple, touched by this act of kindness on Saturday, are now appealing for the man to come forward so they can thank him properly.

Mr Read, aged 37, of Johnson Road, Cannock, said when the man turned up at their home, he was simply in shock. "This just doesn't happen nowadays," said the software manager. "My girlfriend was out shopping in Cannock with her mum, obviously having lost her wallet somewhere.

"It wasn't until she went to buy something from Morrisons when she realised and the panic set in. Meanwhile, a man turned up at our door asking if Nicole Hill lived here. When I said yes, he handed over her wallet.

"At the time all I could think to do was thank him and shake his hand. It wasn't until afterwards that I thought 'this just doesn't happen'.

"I was just speechless. I'd just like to know who this man is, as I'd definitely like to buy him a bottle of Champagne and say thank you properly."

Miss Hill, from Canada, first met Mr Read at the age of 13 when she was on holiday in England on a trip to Blackpool. Six months ago Miss Hill, 37, managed to get hold of some pictures of the two of them taken shortly afterwards, which she then kept in her wallet.

The wallet also contained Miss Hill's expired Canadian bank card and driving licence — which she would need for renewal. "I can't even imagine how I would have felt if I'd have lost it," said Miss Hill, who works as a finance assistant in Tamworth.

"That's the first time I've carried so much money around with me – it was only because I knew I was going shopping with my mum. There was absolutely everything in there.

"I would have been devastated had I lost those pictures. Thank you simply isn't enough." The couple have asked the Good Samaritan, who drove a new silver estate car, to email them at nickyhill23@aol.com

The man is thought to be in his 40s and is believed to have been with his wife.