A pensioner robbed of Christmas money he was saving for his great grandchildren has been brought to tears again by the generosity of local people.

Six members of the public contacted the Evening Advertiser offering to donate the £45 stolen from 77-year-old Ron Winter's home in Highworth after we featured him in our paper on Tuesday.

Three others called the Highworth Neighbour-hood Watch Association pledging money for the widower.

And within hours, the police were given a cheque from an anonymous wellwisher to cover Mr Winter's loss and that of his elderly neighbour, Violet Ches-ters, who had £125 taken in a similar burglary.

The pensioners are now looking forward to enjoying a meal out thanks to the generosity of another reader who sent in a cheque for £50.

So much money has been pledged that the Neighbourhood Watch chairman will distribute it to other elderly people in the area who have also been burgled.

Mr Winter said the generosity of strangers had restored his confidence in people.

"To see there are decent people still left has made me feel so wonderful. It has brought tears to my eyes," he said.

"What happened was heartbreaking but this generosity is just amazing. Thank you so much to everybody.

"I will now be able to give my great grandchildren the money I had been saving so they can buy what they want for Christmas."

Mr Winter is one of seven pensioners to have been targeted by thieves, believed to be the same two teenagers, in council-owned houses in Highworth in the last three weeks.

They forced his bedroom window and took a collection of 5p and 20p coins he had painstakingly put aside from his pension.

What upset him more though was that the money was in a purse belonging to his late wife, one of his only mementoes of her.

One of the people who contacted the Adver was David Tytler, owner of Swindon Hydroponics.

He sent in the cheque which the widower will now be able to use for a meal to help him get over the break-in.

Mr Tytler said: "It was a terrible thing that happened and I just wanted to help."

Pat Willis, chairman of Highworth Neigh-bourhood Watch Associ-ation, said he also had been astounded by public response.

"I think it is absolutely brilliant. It just goes to show that people care."

Anyone who has any information about any of the Highworth break-ins should call Swindon Police on 01793 528111.