PEOPLE in Salcombe were treated to a surprise in the post just before Christmas when an anonymous person took it upon themselves to spread some festive cheer.

Christmas cards dropped through letterboxes in Salcombe with cash inside them, with no sign as to who they were from.

Katie, who preferred us not to use her surname to minimise the chance of the giver being unintentionally identified, received her letter through the door a few days before Christmas.

‘It made me cry,’ said Katie, ‘its just such an amazing gift, just a fantastically beautiful thing to do. I just want them to know how grateful we are and to say thank you to them.

"It made things a little bit easier, removed a few stresses. I was able to get my son something that I didn’t think I could, and I have donated some to charity to pay it forward. I’m a big believer in that."

Katie, along with her friend Becky and two other people she knew were also recipients of the gift-laden cards, all of whom were named on the envelopes, which were hand delivered.

One recipient lives in Malborough, but her card was sent to her mother’s house in Salcombe.

After putting out a post on our Facebook page on Christmas Eve, more beneficiaries came forward to say they also received a random act of kindness.

Charlotte said: ‘I received an anonymous Christmas card through my door with a lot of money in it. No name in it. I also live in Salcombe and my friend also had the same happen to her a few days ago.’

Holly added: ‘I’ve had the same and would like to say thank you to whoever you may be, thank you so much it’s made our Christmas.’

The secret giver obviously wishes to remain secret, but whoever they are, they seem to have brought the true meaning of Christmas to Salcombe and have brightened the lives of many families in the village.