Shopper gives back £250 antiques

Debbie Grimshaw of Local Aid with the two figurines

A woman who bought two figurines in a Swansea charity shop for £2.50 has returned them after discovering they might be worth 100 times as much.

She handed the German-made figures back to the Local Aid shop after telling staff she had had them valued at £250.

The charity, which helps special needs children, hopes to sell the ornaments to a specialist dealer.

Official Bret James said: "It's very generous - it goes to show there are still good people about".

The charity does not know who originally donated the figures to the shop in Morriston, nor the identity of the woman who gave them back.

"The shop can get quite busy and people drop stuff off in bags and sometimes we don't even see them," he explained.

"A lady bought the figures and them brought them back and showed us a letter she had saying they were worth about £250.

"They are not the prettiest of ornaments and don't really look as if they have any value.

"It was very surprising - but very nice.

"We are going to speak to a few dealers and see what the best way is to sell them."

The charity knows little about the hand-painted figures, except that they were made in the 20th Century.

The bonus comes at a useful time for the charity, after a suspicious fire at the rear of the shop on Clase Road damaged play and sports equipment last weekend.

The charity helps organise activities for children with special needs in Swansea and Neath-Port Talbot.