Bus driver finds Valerie's £870 and saves trip to Calais.

YORK pensioner Valerie Saye's Christmas shopping trip to France was in tatters when she left her purse on the bus.

She was on her way into town to change her money into francs. And as the purse contained £870 in cash, she was sure she had seen the last of it.

But Valerie, 65, of Osbaldwick Lane, had not reckoned on honest bus driver Malcolm Craggy.

He found the purse on his vehicle and handed it in - and restored Valerie's faith in human nature.

Now Malcolm, of York Road, Acomb, is being rewarded for his honesty. Valerie is giving him £50 for handing in the purse to his bosses.

The bulging purse was lost at lunchtime on Thursday.

And Valerie was amazed to have got the money back.

She said she was going on a 24-hour trip to Calais next week to buy Christmas presents for her family and friends and was taking the money into town to change it for French francs.

She said: "I had £870 on me when I left the house, but when I went to change the money, my purse wasn't there.

"When I realised what had happened I just stood in the shop crying."

"I honestly didn't think I'd ever get it back. I'd written the money off.

"I'm a pensioner and could never have saved up the money again. My trip and everything looked like it would have to be cancelled."

After she heard that the purse, containing the entire amount, had been found, Mrs Saye said: "I was so worked up I didn't even think to ask the driver's name, I was just so relieved.

"I couldn't believe someone could be so honest. The police were really surprised too. No one could believe it."

Malcolm said: "I wasn't expecting any kind of reward or anything. It was just something I've always been taught to do. At the end of the round, you've got to check the bus and hand in any lost property."

Brian Asquith, managing director of First York, said: "Malcolm's demonstration of honesty is absolutely incredible. If you asked ten people if they'd have done the same, I don't think they'd all say yes.

"This is the most we've ever had handed in by a long way."