A Brighton nurse has had her faith in humanity restored after her stolen bike was returned by a regretful thief.

Eileen Remedios was gutted when the trusty old bicycle she uses for home visits disappeared from Camelford Street.

Out of vague hope of getting her rusty steed returned, she wrote a note to the person who took it. To her disbelief the following day she found a reply with an apology from the reformed thief. 

The note was left under the mat of the home she had visiting.It had two keys inside with her bike attached to a lamppost up the road with a brand-new lock.

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The 55-year-old, who lives in Freshfield Road, Brighton, said: “It really has restored my faith in humanity. It's such a 'Brighton' thing to happen.

“I was feeling quite cross. I thought why would someone want to take my old bike? I thought maybe someone was drunk and had borrowed it.

“But I never imagined that someone would bring it back.”

After the bike was taken, Eileen stuck a note to a wall near to where it went missing pleading for its safe return.

She wrote: “It is old but loved and would be frightened to be away from its owner.”

The next day she found an envelope under the mat headed: “To the owner of the old blue bike”. Inside it said: “A big fat sorry from the reformed bike thief! (I didn't mistreat it)”.

Eileen has now written a jokey note back saying: “To the sweet bike borrower. Thanks for returning my bike. She had a nice time but is delighted to be back with me.”

She added: “The bike hasn't got much value but it was given to me by an old friend and gets me from A to B.

“It was a real inconvenience when it disappeared. Everyone can relate to having a bike stolen, it's gutting.

“The note certainly worked and I wanted to share a good story with a nice ending.

“Who am I to question why, but I am delighted to have my old blue bike back with me.”