Pensioner bins cash as money bag goes to the dump

A pensioner who threw out �2,000 with the rubbish set off a race against time before it was lost forever.

The Stevenage woman, who did not want to be named, mistakenly chucked out the cash yesterday (Thursday) with her weekly collection and only realised after refuse collectors had driven off with the dough.

She then rushed to phone the depot in a desperate race to stop the lorry before it ditched the lolly.

"They managed to catch the driver just before he tipped the truck," she said, "Then three men went through the bags. But I really didn't hold out much hope - the only way to identify it was that it wasn't a full black bag!"

But luckily the dedicated men persevered until they came up with the valuable sack.

She said: "Searching rubbish is a nasty job and I'm so glad they went out of their way to help. I'm definitely impressed with the service Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) provides. I'd like to thank all those who have helped to make this happen - I can't thank the team enough."

Darren Sutheran, one of the refuse collectors who went through the bags, said: "None of us doing the search were too confident - we knew it was like looking for a needle in a haystack!

"Normally, once something is in the rubbish it is gone for good but when we heard a pensioner had lost it we really wanted to find it. I just kept thinking how upset my mum would be if she'd lost that much money.

"We were all rapt when we found it and are very pleased we've been able to help someone out at a very difficult time. It just goes to show - it always pays to ask. We'll help if we can."

John Gardner, environment and regeneration portfolio holder at SBC, said: "I want to thank all the staff involved in finding the money for the magnificent work they've done in less than pleasant circumstances.

"Unfortunately, we can't promise our council tax payers that we can always come through in difficult situations, but we do try.