Dartford Market stall holder's simple act of kindness moves Greenhithe mum to tears after losing her purse
A single mum "burst into tears" of joy after a market stall holder's simple act of kindness lifted her spirits following a stressful trip into town.
Leah Gray was shopping in Dartford market with her young son Ieuan, 10, when she went to pay for a selection of groceries.
But the 32-year-old, who lives in St Clements Lake, Greenhithe, was left "distraught" after realising her purse had gone missing and she had no means to pay.
With no access to alternative funds, Leah searched high and low with the help of fruit and veg stall holder Phil Jenns.
The stall owner told the young mum he'd set aside her items whilst she retraced her steps but Leah was forced to return home empty-handed after her search across town proved unsuccessful.
"When I went home I was distraught," said Leah, who initially believed she had been the victim of a pick pocket.
She added: "I had just pulled it out and I thought it had been stolen to be honest."
That evening Leah had turned her attention to cancelling her bank cards when she received a mystery knock on the door.
To her surprise the pharmaceutical company worker found stall holder Phil standing there with the food items and her purse.
The 55-year-old, who lives with his wife and two of his children in Windmill Hill, Gravesend, explained: "Some time later we found her purse under the front of the stall so we realised she had left the purse."
No contact number was left inside but Phil managed to track down the young mum via the address on her driving licence left inside.
"I put it into Google Maps and it was not far from where I park my van at all," he said.
Phil, who has been running the stall in Dartford market for ten years, went on to describe the moment the mum was re-united with her missing possessions.
"It was great I knocked on the door and I said 'Are you Leah?'" before handing over her fruit and veg and revealing her lost purse.
"She just burst into tears and gave me a big hug," he added.
Shortly after Leah's young son came running out and gave the grocer an equally warm embrace.
Phil added: "It made me feel blinding, it was the best part of my day."