Money taken from HSBC ATM on Station Road in New Milton is handed in

A PENSIONER was “over the moon” to get back £500 which was taken after she forgot to remove it from a New Milton cash machine.

The day after the A&T reported the loss online, the money was put through the door of the town's HSBC last Friday with an anonymous note saying it had been left in the ATM.

The notes had vanished by the time the 63-year-old lady, who withdrew it last Monday for a holiday, returned moments after realising she had left it behind.

Daughter Bex Jenkins said her parents had been left "really distressed" by the loss.

But this week she said her mum was “absolutely delighted” to get her money back.

She said: “She is over the moon. We cannot thank the A&T enough. I think if it had not been for you, we would not have got the cash back.”

Last week's story revealed how police were investigating the theft and that the person taking the money, a woman, had been caught on CCTV by the bank.

Ms Jenkins said: “I think the thief must have panicked when they read that and decided to return the cash.

"We are just delighted that mum has her money back.”