AN unemployed woman was stunned when a stranger offered to pay for repairs to her car after being stumped with an unexpected bill.

Judith Bennett, from Northwich, had taken her car for her annual MOT last month.

After carrying out the inspection garage staff informed Judith she needed two new headlights, and would have to stump up £500 for the pair.

“I ferry my 88-year-old mother to hospital. I need my car.

"I’m unemployed and penniless,” the 63-year-old told the Guardian.

As Judith was talking to staff from the garage, a man who was sat in the waiting room overheard their conversation.

Judith said: “He heard me say I was unemployed, saying ‘what am I going to do’? I sat down in shock.

“He said he owned a local haulage business and he knew a man who could do repairs.”

The mystery man was Sam Worrall, a partner in Elder Distribution, which is based in Wincham.

He said: “She was at the counter and said she didn’t have the money and that she needed the car to take her mum to the hospital.

“It was just the right place at the right time.”

Initially Sam passed on the number for Dean Lomas from D C Lomas Ltd in Winsford.

He then decided to go one step further.

Sam said: “I went outside and called Dean and he said if I paid for the parts he would knock the cost of the labour off.

"So it was a joint effort.”

Judith said she was ‘gobsmacked’ when Sam told her he would take care of the bill.

She said: “They came and picked my car up and Sam paid the bill. I don’t know him from Adam, and he’s never met me.

“I just want people to know that there are good people in the world that will do nice things for others.

“It’s incredible.”

Sam said it was the first time he had helped a stranger in need.

“It felt good,” Sam said.

“It’s a nice thing to do, to help out someone who needs it.”