A Sandbach charity shop has reunited a grieving daughter with the much-loved hat belonging to her late father - thanks to the power of Social Media.

When Rachel White realised her dad's treasured Australian hat had been mistakenly donated to St Luke's Hospice Sandbach shop, she feared it had gone forever.

But she needn't have worried because when a Facebook post appeared about the treasured hat, the charity shop customer who had bought it went in to the Congleton Road shop and gladly returned it.

The person who had bought the hat for £10 saw the appeal and kindly returned it the Sandbach charity shop.

Assistant manager, Ros Sturge said: "We were so delighted to get the hat, which had been bought by one of a regular customers, back. We gave him his £10 back and quickly got in touch with Rachel.

"We Facetimed her and showed her the hat which she confirmed was the one. We were all so pleased that she and her sister could finally get the hat back.

"It's a wonderful story and just shows how kind and community-minded people are. We're pleased we could help make this happen."

Rachel, who lives in Wales, explained why the hat is so important to her. She said: "My dad was taken to Australia as an 18 month old baby - a £10 Pom and grew up there in his younger years.

"When we thought of dad, we thought of that hat. He loved it. It was symbolic of the years he spent in Australia. Anyone who knew my dad would know the hat."

She added: "Over the years I have witnessed unbelievable things happen for people through the power of Facebook, so I decided to try putting a post out in the hope the same miracle could also happen for me and my sister.

"The response from total strangers was nothing but heart-warming. The post was shared beyond my expectations."

Rachel added: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank this person with all my heart. Both myself and my sister are overjoyed that we have it back. Also a massive thank you to Ros for your kind words and support."

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