WE MAY be bitter rivals on the football field, but big hearted Brits have won the hearts of the Germans.

A trio of visitors to Euro '96 called by the Citizen offices this week to say thank you to the local lass who saved their holiday.

As their national side prepared for last night's (Tuesday's) Euro 96 showdown with Italy, three German fans were frantically searching for their holiday cash, that they had misplaced in Burnley.

But when their wallet was found and handed to police by shopper Susan Proctor it prompted a celebration to match anything seen on the terraces.

Football fanatics, Andrea Wieners, Michael Pommar and Bernd Jerzembek, from the Ruhr region, were visiting Burnley on Tuesday with their English friend and interpreter Peter Morton when Andrea decided to phone home.

"Andrea jumped into a phone box outside NatWest bank on St James Street," explained Peter, who was showing them the Burnley sights.

"I think she just got carried away and forgot to take her purse out when she left. I couldn't believe it when we got back home."

The black, leather pouch contained £100 of Andrea's holiday money and was quickly spotted by telephone clerk, Susan Proctor, who was walking by.

Susan, of Alexander Grove, Burnley, took the purse to Burnley police station where officers searched it and found a number for Andrea's aunt in Germany, who duly phoned her mother.

Said Andrea: "My mother called Bernd's wife and she called me in Todmorden - I'm really grateful to Susan for handing in my purse. If I'd lost it in Germany, I'm sure I would never have seen it again.

"People in Burnley are so nice and honest and I will never forget Susan."

To show her appreciation, Andrea bought Susan a bunch of blue and white lilacs - the colours of her favourite team, FC Schalke.

"I'm completely flabbergasted," said Susan. "I only handed in a purse - it was no big deal. I was only doing what I hope someone else might do for me."

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