IT IS a story that will restore the faith of even the most cynical of us.

After thieves stole money from a pensioner, kind-hearted business partners stepped in and paid her the lost money from their own pockets.

However, instead of keeping the gift Dot Stewart, aged 84, has given every single penny of it to the Daily Echo-backed appeal fund for victims of the tsunami disaster.

"I am a pensioner but I am not hungry," she said. "The money will do more good out there than in my purse."

When Rachel Mills and Julian Hill read the letter from Dot in the Daily Echo explaining how thieves had found her purse following her shopping trip to Shirley precinct and emptied it of £42, they decided to give her the lost money.

They also gave her an extra £58 on top. All the money will now go towards helping the tsunami victims.

Business partners Rachel and Julian, who together run Delta Finance Corporation in Fareham, were in Watford to watch Saints play in the Carling Cup against Watford when they spotted Dot's letter in which she wrote that she hoped whoever stole the money from her purse needed it more than she did - an 84-year-old pensioner.

"I don't know how you can sleep at night," it ended.

Rachel, 34, of Romsey, said: "Before the match we went to a lovely cosy pub and had taken the Daily Echo with us to read the pre-match review.

"We were sat in the pub, gloriously warm and in fine spirits when we came across the letter. Julian and I were touched by it.

"Like the majority of people we have a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong. We were saddened to think the purse wasn't returned intact and this story made us realise that we are indeed quite fortunate.

"We decided there and then that we would like to pay Mrs Stewart the lost money. We hope it restores her faith in some way."

Dot, of Severn Road, Millbrook, was delighted - but then came the news of the catastrophe on the other side of the world.

Dot did not think twice about donating every penny to the local disaster fund set up by the Southampton Council of Faiths and supported by the Daily Echo.

"Before I knew about the disaster I was going to donate £20 to charity but when I heard about the tragedy I decided to give it all.

"If I gave them everything I had it would be a drop in the ocean. I feel deeply grieved over what has happened.

So many people have been left with nothing.

"It was very generous of these people to give me this money, really lovely," she added.

On hearing about Mrs Stewart's own kind gesture Rachel said: "I'm delighted that a good turn has become another good turn."