Bundles of £2,000 in cash hidden around village were left by two Good Samaritans

A five-year mystery of who was leaving bundles of £2,000 around a village has finally been solved.

From 2014 to November 2019, 13 packages containing piles of £20 notes were discovered in plain sight in the village of Blackhall Colliery in County Durham.

The mysterious parcels were all handed into police and left officers scratching their heads.

They carried out interviews with local people, spoke to organisations including banks and the Post Office, and even carried out tests for fingerprints.

But on Monday, Durham Police said that they had got to the bottom of the £26,000 enigma.

A spokesman said that two generous individuals with an "emotional connection" to the former pit village had wanted to give something back, after receiving "unexpected windfalls".

The force said that the people had often waited to make sure the cash had been picked up after dropping it off, but have never sought any thanks for their donations.

The spokesman added that the individuals had come forward and disclosed their charitable donations, and they had said they were glad to help residents.

The generous people have both chosen to remain anonymous.

Detective Constable John Forster said: "I'm really pleased we have an answer to this mystery and am glad we can now definitively rule out the money being linked to any crime or a vulnerable person.

"I would like to thank the Good Samaritans for getting in touch and also to the honest residents of Blackhall who have continued to hand the money in.

"We would encourage anyone who may find another bundle to continue to hand it in. All the previous bundles have been returned to the finder."

Dc Forster had previously speculated that the person behind the donations "could be a lottery winner who has decided to pay something back to their local community".

In November, Gaynor Crute, chairwoman of Monk Hesleden Parish Council, which covers Blackhall Colliery, said she took pride in the fact that 13 times people had handed the cash over to police.

She said: "There's so much negativity and bad press, so when you have something like this it is obviously heartwarming to know the people you live with, your neighbours, have so much honesty and integrity."

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