A GENEROUS Medway Today reader has made an elderly woman's day by replacing part of her showpiece floral display which was stolen by thieves. Brian Medhurst took pity on 75-year-old Valentine Sutton, who is seriously handicapped, after reading about the heartless burglary last Monday.

The retired businessman decided to buy a hanging basket to replace the one stolen from her garden in Nelson Terrace, Luton. He said: "I am an OAP but I think I am a bit more fortunate than this lady. I have been in business and made a few bob so I thought I would buy the flowers for her."

Mrs Sutton was sleeping in her lounge, recovering from a serious heart attack, when the thieves went into her garden and cut down her treasured 4ft deep hanging basket. Later she said: "It was my pleasure to sit out there just looking at my flowers. They were absolutely magnificent. Now they are gone. How could they do it?"

Mrs Sutton was one of a number of neighbours who had decked out their gardens to give their road a bit of colour. Handing over his present, and a bunch of roses, Mr Medhurst, of Grange Way, Rochester, remembered a time when there was no fear of theft.

The 67-year-old, who used to work on demolition sites, said: "Years ago you could leave your wallet on a pile of bricks all day. When you came back it would still be there. You could leave your car open and not worry about anything being stolen."

Mrs Sutton was delighted to hear her flowers were to be replaced. Her daughter Val McIntyre said: "When she heard, she put her hands to her face. She wanted to cry. She was so pleased, she could not believe it. After the burglary she said she had lost faith in people but this has now been restored."

 If you know what happened to the basket, which contained a display of fuchsias and pink and mauve single and double petunias, please call the police or ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.