ARGUS readers have helped renew a 90-year-old’s faith in humanity after she had £1,000 of her pension money stolen.

Betty Adams from Kemp Town said she was looking forward to Christmas again after people came together to replace the money  taken from her by a thief.

The Argus reported the theft in Tuesday’s Argus and since then donations have flooded in.

The widower said: “Thank you to everyone and The Argus readers.

“It was very nice of them as I don’t know them.

“But do to that is very kind.”

Betty was sitting on her favourite bench near her Brighton home last Wednesday when a woman took the money she had saved from her pension out of her bag.

She made conversation with Betty to distract her while she took the money which Betty had been saving for nearly a year.

Betty said: “My husband died six years ago and I don’t know what he would have done about it.

“These things happen to you when you’re on your own.”

Betty was particularly upset after the money was taken because she had saved it to buy Christmas presents for her great-grand.

Betty, who has been in-and-out of hospital since a stroke in 2015, thanked her neighbour Hanna Hammond for organising the fundraising.

Betty now feels “a lot better” about the incident after the fundraiser set up by her neighbour raised enough to replace all the money within four days.

Hannah, 33, who works for the charity Time to Talk Befriending, which helps lonely people, said: “A big thanks to The Argus for putting this in the paper.

“And I’m so glad that Betty can now get her presents.

“It’s sad when these things happen but when it’s on your doorstep it affects you a lot more.”

People sent in messages of support with the donations ranging from £5 to £145.

A well-wisher named Georgina Lestini wrote: “I think what happened to Betty is absolutely despicable.

“I am always outraged with people’s actions.

“I hope Betty and her grandchildren have a lovely Christmas”

Christina Moore said: “I hope this fundraising will go someway to restoring your faith in the goodness of people.

“You will have a Happy Christmas.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “The 25-year-old woman who was arrested has now been eliminated from the investigation.

“However enquiries are currently ongoing to trace another woman in order to arrest and interview her about the offence.”