A woman was left 'gobsmacked' by the actions of a shopper who was stood behind her in the queue from the checkout. She was left in tears following the experience at her local ASDA in Middleton, and says she cried the entire way home.
Regular Asda shopper Sinead Riley says she was left it shock after a kind-hearted customer insisted on paying for their £196 shop, which included buying school uniforms ahead of the new school year and presents for her youngest daughter Fern's first birthday, when she got to the checkout.
Sinead, who was with her partner William Jordan and daughters Isla, who's five, three-year-old Eden and one-year-old Fern says she was in tears following the kind gesture. She said: "We had both finished work and headed to Asda Radcliffe with all three girls for some of the school uniform shop, food, baby milk and with Fern's first birthday just days away a cake and a couple of presents.
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"I got out my card to pay when the lovely lady behind me offered to pay for our entire shop! The lot. In shock I said "It's okay don't worry, I have enough. The lady insisted and told me my children were beautiful and to spend my money on enjoying my time with them. I couldn't hold back my tears and gave her the biggest hug. It was completely out of the blue. The lady didn't know us from Adam. I'd never seen her before in my life."
Sinead, whose mum Julie worked as a bakery colleague at the store for 25 years, said: "Times are hard, especially for working families with three young children. It was such a beautiful thoughtless gesture that I'm still in shock. I cried the whole way home and I rang my mum crying too. I would never have expected a stranger to pay for a three figure shop for a family she has never met. So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
"The colleague on the checkouts was in shock too. When we get chance we will return the act of kindness to another stranger."
ASDA Middleton's community champion Tammie Wakefield said: "I have no words – the generosity of this customer is outstanding. I couldn't believe it when I heard. I was gobsmacked ... but I wasn't surprised as our customers at Radcliffe store are simply the best."
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