A Congleton pensioner has praised the "overwhelming" community spirit her town has shown after having the money she left on her doorstep for a Sunday lunch delivery stolen.

Linda Oakes, (66), of West End Cottages, Congleton, had an envelope with £10 inside, which was for a roast dinner from Jill's Catering, taken on Easter Sunday.

Ms Oakes, who suffers from chronic kidney disease and has been self-isolating during the coronavirus pandemic was brought to tears when she realised that someone had stolen her money.

Linda had been given an estimated delivery time between 2.30pm and 3pm, and to ensure the envelope didn't blow away she put a big stone on top.

With the cottages on Ms Oakes' street very close to the road, she was sat waiting in her living room eagerly anticipating and looking forward to her Sunday dinner, which was due to be a virtual Easter Sunday lunch with three of her friends.

When she saw the lady from Jill's Catering walking towards her property with her meal, her eyes lit up, but after opening the front door and asking the member of staff whether she had picked up the £10, she couldn't believe the reply was no.

Ms Oakes told Nub News: "I knew there wasn't any possible way that the envelope could have blown away so I thought someone must have taken it.

"I went and found the lady another £10 and gave it to her, when I came into the house I burst into tears. I think it was the shock of knowing that someone must have walked past my window, known that I was sat in the living room and still have taken the envelope from underneath the rock."

Ms Oakes couldn't hide her dismay and she wanted to raise awareness to the Congleton community about what had happened.

After posting on social media, Ms Oakes couldn't believe the support she received from the town.

Ms Oakes added: "I think the fact that whoever this was made a precise decision to steal that envelope, that's what has upset so many people-the fact that someone was willing to steal a person's meal.

"As I saw all these messages of support coming in, it brought more tears to my eyes.

"When you receive hundreds of messages of support, it really does restore your faith in human nature."

Despite living at West End Cottages for two and a half years, Linda only really knows her immediate neighbours.

After hearing what had happened, a lady at the top of her road came down to see if she was okay, and after chatting they both realised they had attended the same school.

Ms Oakes is looking forward to repaying the acts of kindness she has been shown once the coronavirus outbreak has passed.

Ms Oakes continued: "I have had a young woman offering to buy me lunch from her friend's catering company and already sent me a menu.

"I told her that I would be reciprocating the kind offer in any way I can. I offered my services to help her with anything related to bespoke soft furnishing and fabrics because that's the industry I worked in."

Ms Oakes has been using her sewing expertise to make laundry bags for the nurses at Macclesfield Hospital and plans to make some straps for the frontline workers' facemasks using yarn, buttons and crochet work.

Within one hour of Sunday's incident, Shaun Radcliffe of the Congleton Food Hub, had already posted an envelope through Linda's door with a £10 note enclosed.

On Monday morning, Mr Radcliffe went out of his way to drop off a food parcel, an Easter egg and a bouquet of flowers for Linda.

Ms Oakes said: "He reduced to me tears again, he's an amazing young gentleman. It wasn't only the shopping and flowers he got me. There was another envelope amongst the shopping with another £10 note in, which he said was for compensation after the incident.

"It was an unbelievable act of kindness, which I am so, so thankful for."

Jill Millard, owner of Astbury based Jill's Catering, delivered a complimentary lunch to Ms Oakes yesterday (Tuesday) and told her that a lady had already got in contact with them to pay for another Sunday lunch to be delivered to Linda's house.

Ms Oakes said: "Our Congleton is home to some wonderful people. Since this happened, I have received so much kindness, it's overwhelming.

"My hometown has shown that we may be a little town, but we have a big, big heart."

A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: "Police have been made aware of the theft of £10 from outside the address in West End Cottages in Congleton, which occurred on 12th April sometime between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

"There have not been any others reports of such thefts in the area."

Anyone with information on the theft can contact Cheshire Police here quoting IML 681443.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.