THIS is a letter to two gentlemen who, on Sunday, July 4, in the Park Road and Ashleigh School area of Darwen, found my black handbag in the road and delivered it to my astonished husband - who was unaware of its loss.

I had been to the early communion service, then to Woodlands residential home to bring my father home for the day.

He is 93 and the only thing of any value in my bag was his wallet with a Parker pen clipped inside, which was a present from my late mother, so he treasures it very much. Also there was £30 in cash.

After reporting it missing at the police station, we then returned home where my husband picked up the missing bag off the breakfast bar, "is this your bag?"

We are sharing our thanks with the readers of your paper to show there is still much goodness in human nature - even on the day the world was to end - according to Nostradamus.

MIRIAM CROOK, Darwen (full address received)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.