THE co-owner of a Wellington tea room has received a surprise and unusual donation towards her fundraising walk for Wellington Monument.

Nancy Powell-Brace arrived at Odette’s in High Street to find an envelope on the doormat containing £115 in old £5 notes.

In a note, the anonymous donor suggested she contact a ‘collector or dealer’ who could give her legal tender for the fivers to help towards her walk.

Nancy said: “My thanks in abundance to my anonymous benefactor and to Lloyds Bank of Wellington for exchanging the old for new without hesitation. Such goodness is accompanying my walk. I feel truly blessed!”

Nancy, who will be 59 at the time of trek, will be starting her ‘Walk to Wellington’, on Friday, September 14.

She will be walking from Cleopatra’s Needle on the bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster to Wellington Monument.

The structures are the only three-sided obelisks in this country and the monument at 175ft is the tallest three-sided obelisk in the world.

So far Nancy, who has a Just giving page, has raised £2,500.

Several local businesses are supporting her by paying for one night’s accommodation on the walk and in other ways. They are: The Mount, Kamyko, Bouncy Bears Nursery, K S Coles, Kardiez, The Emporium, Relyon (two nights), Wilkie, May & Tuckwood and Buy and Save (buying walking boots).

Nancy added: “Any further donations from local businesses will ensure that their logo is printed on all T-shirts I wear during the walk.”