A woman has sent a big thank you to the people of Merseyside for their “non-stop kindness” during a recent visit.

Christine Veitch, 75, from Cumbria, was on her way to visit her poorly brother in Neston when her train to Liverpool Lime Street terminated at Preston, leaving her in a rush to get the next train to the city

Speaking to the ECHO, Christine said: “We all got thrown off at Preston with six minutes to get the next train. We had to rush across the station onto an alternative train, which was already crowded.”

It was then the “wave of kindness” began. She said: “First of all, I was offered a seat, which I was more than grateful for. I’m a pensioner, but I’m not a doddery old lady or anything, so that was nice to begin with.”

Then a kindly stranger called Keith sat next to her and gave her reassurance about her onward journey. Christine said: “We got chatting, and I mentioned I was worried about whether or not I’d make it to the train for Neston. He said to me, ‘don’t worry pet, I’ll take you’.”

Keith guided Christine through Lime Street Station, then checked the timing of the trains and waited until she was safely on board before waving her off on the platform. “He was so so kind,” said Christine. “He even gave me a kiss when he left!”

But it didn’t stop there. Keith passed on the kindness baton to a lady called Jane, who was waiting on the same platform as Christine at Bidston. Christine said: "We got on the train and she saw me looking at a piece of paper I’d brought along with my journey times on. She said to me, ‘I know where it is you’re going - I’ll tell you where to get off’.

When they arrived at Neston, a couple of lads lifted Christine’s case off the train for her, and Jane showed her to the high street, from where she was able to make her own way to her brother’s house.