THE daughter of an elderly mugging victim has given her heartfelt thanks to the mystery hero who stepped in to replace the stolen cash.

The man withdrew £200 from a cashpoint and handed it to the 86-year-old victim after she was robbed in Acomb last Friday.

Police investigating the crime have publicly thanked the man, who disappeared after he passed the money to the woman whose handbag was snatched as she was in her car outside the shop and post office in Regent Buildings.

Now the daughter of the mugging victim, who wishes to remain anonymous to protect her mother’s identity, has also come forward to give her thanks.

She said: “This man deserves the biggest thank-you in the world.

“She was so upset by what happened, and there are not a lot of people out there who would do this so she did not know what was happening and we have not had chance to say thank you properly.

“On behalf of myself, my mother and the rest of the family – thank you so much.”

She said her mum had been in her car when the mugger reached in and grabbed the bag.

“She had one hell of a scare,” she said. “She was absolutely terrified. She has health problems anyway but now she is very jumpy and shaky at any noises or sudden movement.

“We just really hope to find out who this guy is. What he did was so kind.”

A man has been arrested and has appeared before York magistrates charged with the attack, which happened after the woman had withdrawn cash at about 9.30am.