POLICE have thanked a pensioner from North Yorkshire, who sent a letter and donation to the "lovely family" of PC Dave Phillips, who was killed while trying to stop burglars in a stolen truck.

The unnamed woman says in the letter: "I'm sure you will be making a collection for them.

"If I could make it more I would.

"This morning my pension paid me a little bonus so have passed it on to this lovely family.

"God bless you all."

A copy of the letter was posted on facebook by Merseyside Police Federation, with the message "The kindness of strangers", and it has also been widely shared on twitter.

The federation added: "The elderly man who goes into a front office at a Sussex Police station to leave £10 to pass to PC Dave Phillips's family... The pensioner from North Yorkshire who gave up a few quid from their pension for the "lovely family".

"The elderly gent has who walks into a Hampshire Police station and gives £50 for the memorial fund...  The thousands of people who have donated to the online/text funds established since Dave's death on Monday.

"Such kindness. Truly overwhelming. Thank you."

So far, more than £100,000 has been raised for the PC Phillips Memorial Fund.

The police federation branch said the officer's family would decide how it was spent.

Clayton Ronald Williams was remanded in custody after appearing at Wirral Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged with murdering the officer.

The 18-year-old, of Wheatland Lane, Wallasey, Merseyside, is accused of stealing a Mitsubishi pick-up truck during a burglary and driving it at PC Phillips, killing the father-of-two.

PC Phillips was trying to use a "stinger" type device to puncture the vehicle's wheels when he was hit on Dock Road in Wallasey in the early hours of Monday.