Honesty gave a schoolboy a clear conscience and made him £60 richer.

Tom Nelson, ten, found £60 cash in a street and initially thought he might keep it.

He said: "But then I thought whatever I bought with it would make me feel guilty. I would not feel right about it."

Tom later handed in the money at Hove police station and thought that would be the last he would hear about it.

No one claimed the cash and he was given the money back yesterday at Somerhill Junior School, Somerhill Road, Hove, where he is a pupil.

In addition, he was presented with a Certificate of Honesty by PC Andy Hart, schools' liaison officer.

Tom, who lives in Hove, found the money as he was about to enter a video shop in Clarendon Road, Hove.

He said: "I feel really good about handing it in and I believe honesty is the best policy.

"I'm going to spend some of the cash on a new pair of trainers but I don't know yet what I'll do with the rest."

Ben Parkhurst, Somerhill's headteacher, said: "We are all delighted for Tom and very proud of him."

A police spokeswoman said: "It is quite rare for people to hand in cash to a police station and we do not often present honesty certificates. Tom was brilliant and deserves a pat on the back for his honesty.

"Finding small amounts of cash poses a dilemma for most people.

"It might not seem very important at the time but the money might belong to an elderly pensioner on a limited income.

"For them, it could mean the difference between eating properly for a week or going without.

"It is a test of honesty which Tom passed with flying colours."