A GRATEFUL mum has thanked a kind conductor after he bought a £55 ticket for her stranded son.

Victoria Cairns took to Facebook to express her gratitude when her 16-year-old son was helped to get him home in time for his grandfather's funeral.

The boy soldier was supposed to leave Harrogate Station on Friday and return home on compassionate leave, but when it transpired he was unable to, he called booking website thetrainline.com to change his ticket.

His mum, Victoria Cairns, said the family believed he would be able use the same ticket on the Arriva train and travel home, but he was told during an inspection it was no longer valid.

He had no means of paying for a new ticket and could not get in touch with his mum.

Mrs Cairns posted: "My son explained what had happened, showed the conductor the 12 minute phone call to the train line on his phone from when he changed the details of travel but the conductor said they hadn't changed it properly and his ticket wasn't valid. 

"He couldn't get hold of me (I was still asleep after being up until 3am with little one's ear ache) to pay for another ticket so he was stuck.

 "BUT instead of throwing my son off the train the conductor of Harrogate station (Mr Peter Foster ) PAID FOR MY SONS TICKET!!!"

The random act of kindness made Mrs Cairns burst into tears when her son explained what had happened, as Mr Foster said he was "always happy to help a serviceman in need" and trusted the soldier to pay him back.

Mrs Cairns added: "Paying him back doesn't seem enough and I would like ARRIVA to know what a great human being the conductor at Harrogate is and Mr Peter Foster I thank you again from the bottom of my heart ❤️ as does my son xxx. 

Paul Barnfield, Regional Director at Northern. said: “Our conductor Peter Foster went above and beyond his call of duty to help out.

"It was a wonderful act of kindness, we’re very proud to have Peter and so many other great people as part of the Northern team.”