Honest Nathan hands in £10,000

Scene of the find: Nathan at first thought someone would return for the bags

A teenage boy has been praised for his honesty after handing in £10,000 he found stuffed into two carrier bags.

Nathan Gittings, 14, from Hengoed, near Caerphilly, south Wales, took the money home to his mother after stumbling across it at a disused bus stop.

The cash has been traced to an elderly man who confused while on medication, is thought to have lost his life savings while out on a walk.

The teenager's mother Sharon Gittings said she is just grateful that he can enjoy the peace of mind from doing the right thing.

"He said he had been praying for three weeks to find money to buy a new fishing rod, but doing something good will come back to him," she said.

"It did cross our minds afterwards that we could have bought this or that, but his peace of mind is priceless.

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Would you hand in £10,000 if you found it in a bag on the street?

Yes

 59.41% 

No

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"There was no question about handing the money in. He said 'we can't keep it'."

She said Nathan initially ignored the bags when he first saw them, thinking they would be retrieved by whoever had forgotten them.

The next day, he opened them to see if he could find out who they belonged to and found a wad of cash stuffed into a toiletry bag.

He brought it home and he and his mother counted it up. It came to £9,000.

On a second trip, he came back with another wad of notes.

"If it was drugs money or something, my son could have been in danger."

But, she added: "It was a local gentleman's life possessions.

"Apparently he has been unwell but he has been treated since, which is good news, and he is grateful to have all of his possessions back."

Nathan has had a letter from the police thanking him for his help.

A spokesman for Gwent Police said: "Nathan did very well - he must be the most honest schoolboy in the country."