A 999 responder wants to thank the kind man who bought her and her son a KFC.

Laura Poulson was reduced to tears when she was approached in the Strood Retail Park chicken restaurant.

The 38-year-old, of Hughes Drive, Wainscott, had finished a long shift on Friday.

She said: “I picked up my eight-year-old from my childminder and went home.

“I had a couple of people coming to buy bricks, and clothes I had put up for sale because I’m pretty skint at the moment.

“After they left, my son Harry asked if we could have KFC and seeing as I’d got a few pounds I said ‘yes’.”

The pair arrived at 7.15pm, ordered and waited for their meal. Little Harry asked his mum about the work she does.

"He wasn’t doing it for show, he tried to give me the money so discretely..." Laura Poulson

She explained that as a call taker she is the first point of contact for those needing emergency help.

From elderly people falling over, traumatic injuries like stabbings, road traffic collisions and helping deliver babies over the phone, in her six years at the call centre in Coxheath, she has heard it all.

She added: “When my meal was ready I heard someone say ‘excuse me’. I turned around and a guy in his 30s - 40s said ‘take this to pay for your meal’ and handed me a £10 note.

“I was so shocked. He had said it really quietly and obviously didn’t want a fuss made - bless him. I said ‘I can’t take that’ but he put his hand up and said ‘take it’ and smiled. I walked out and teared-up in the car, what a lovely thing to do. He wasn’t doing it for show, he tried to give me the money so discretely.

“I ruined it for him by loudly saying ‘oh my gosh I can’t take that’ then ‘thank you so much’!

“It meant a lot because nobody really understands how hard the job we do is. It felt really lovely that someone appreciates us that much that they’d give such a sweet gesture. It really did help me out financially too.”

Miss Poulson put an appeal on Facebook to show her appreciation and in the hope he may see it.

Do you know the man? Call the newsroom on 01634 227803.

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