A nine-year-old was rewarded for her honesty after handing in the wallet of a cash-strapped student who thought he had lost £345.

Rebecca Netley, a pupil of St Mary's Roman Catholic School in Vale Road, Portslade, spotted the black wallet, which also contained a number of credit cards, on a bench next to a bus stop in Hove.

She did not think twice about taking it to the nearest police station and nagged her mum, Glendora, to take her there straight away.

The grateful owner, university student Liam O'Dwyer, was over the moon when he heard of Rebecca's honesty.

PC Andy Hart, of Sussex Police, awarded Rebecca an honesty certificate for her act of citizenship at a special school assembly.

He had taken an assembly two weeks before Rebecca found the wallet, teaching children the difference between right and wrong.

He said: "We like to reward good behaviour as well as chasing people for bad.

"It's nice to encourage people of this age to do the right thing and hopefully it will be an example to everybody else."

Mrs Nettley, from Mile Oak Gardens, Portslade, said: "Rebecca has always been an honest girl.

"It's nice the police have come in to do this. I'm ever so proud of her."

Rebecca was delighted to receive a visit from the grateful student after her find on March 28.

He gave her an Easter egg and a thank-you card with £20 inside.

She said: "I was really pleased when the owner came round. I would do it all again."