A mum who has been shielding for a year said she had her "faith in humanity restored" when she lost her purse during her first walk outside.
Odette Hill, 69, had been shielding at home since last March when the first national lockdown began.
After the best part of a year spent indoors, she was persuaded by her son to go for a walk.
Odette said: "I'm classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and since last March I've hardly been over the door.
"But my son came and picked me up and took me for a short walk in New Brighton.
"It was lovely to walk along there with my son and my dog. To get that fresh air and my dog enjoyed it.
"We were going to buy a coffee and he realised he only had his card and the place was cash only.
"I opened my purse to see what cash I had and I thought I put it back into my bag but I must have missed the opening and it fell on the floor.
"I didn't realise until I got home."
Odette explained why losing her purse caused her such a great deal of distress.
She said: "It's a shock when you lose something that's so personal to you.
"The money that was in there was buttons but it was my bank cards, credit cards, disabled pass - everything.
"I was shaking to be honest, it knocked me sick.
"It might not have that effect on other people but because I had everything in there and the purse was sentimental to me as it belonged to my mum."
After realising that her purse had gone, Odette's son went online and began the process of cancelling all her bank cards.
It was when he logged on to her laptop he noticed that she had a message.
Daniel Russell, 21, along with brother Chris, 18, and mum Sue had found Odette's purse under a bench on New Brighton prom.
Odette said: "He asked me had I lost my purse in New Brighton and could I confirm the postcode on the driving licence.
"Somehow he was able to trace me.
"Then he said don't worry, we're going to drop this off for you!"
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Less than an hour after Odette was distraught thinking she had lost her purse, Daniel and his family drove to her house to drop it off.
So relieved at getting her purse back and the family going out of their way to return it, Odette posted a message on the Crimewatch Wirral Facebook group to publicly thank Daniel and his family.
The post read: "Today I went outside for the first time in a long time, to walk along New Brighton front.
"When I arrived home I realised I had lost my purse. I was devastated. In it were all my cards, OAP pass and driving licence.
"I was so very upset and then a name popped up on messenger, Daniel Russell. He had found my purse while walking with his mum and brother.
"I am so grateful to them for returning my purse right to my door. It lifts the spirits and restores your faith in humanity!!
"A massive huge thank you is in order! X"
Speaking to the ECHO, she added: "There's so many bad things going on in the world today besides Covid.
"You hear all these things about young people but then there's two lovely boys with a lovely mum and family.
"To actually do that in this day and age, I was so upset because I thought it was that last I would see of that purse."
