11 of News Shopper's most heart-warming and inspiring stories of 2017

The list, though not exhaustive, is a little taste of the goodness and kindness people in south-east London and north Kent have shown throughout the year.

A simple thank you on Facebook to a friendly Co-op staff member escalated into a massive outpouring of support for Jerome Kadine Humes, from Plumstead.

Praise started to flood in for Jerome, with many wishing him well for the future. So much so that strangers fundraised for his new career as a teaching assistant, and doubled their modest £200 target.

He was blown away but the kindness of strangers and said: “Thank you so much everyone, I am absolutely gobsmacked and overwhelmed by this.” Just shows the power of social media!

A stranger turned himself into a hero when he returned a Marvel-loving toddler’s lost tablet.

Little Albie Langford, of Simnel Road, Lee, was reunited with his tablet after it fell from the roof of his dad’s car. Without his tablet, he couldn’t watch his favourite superhero cartoons.

A little bit of luck came in handy when Albie's sister noticed a Facebook post from a kind stranger trying to reunite the lost tablet with its owner. Albie got his precious tablet back, and the kind stranger got some flowers as a thank-you. Yay!

Parkinson's sufferer John Edwards and his wife Glynis, who has trouble walking, were on the way back from an appointment at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup, when they stopped at Tesco in Edgington Way to do some shopping.

As they made their way back to their car with their shopping in the rain, Mr Edwards, 73, had a nasty fall.

A good Samaritan rushed to help them and sat with the couple, even offering to drive them home. What a gentleman. A small thing to do, but he reassured the couple it would all be OK and they felt better for it. They wanted to thank him, but so far no one has come forward and said it was them - here's hoping you see this!

A more festive story now – 3,000 knitted angels made their way to Orpington to spread some Christmas cheer earlier this month.

Each angel that was left around the town had a Christmas message in it.

Churches Together in Orpington went to all that effort for the second year running, hiding angels around food banks, schools, hospitals and railway stations. What a lovely, festive gesture.

A mother of an autistic girl wrote to staff at The O2 Arena because she was so blown away by what they did for her daughter.

Fifteen-year-old Lily went to see her favourite band Linkin Park in July, but her mum was worried about how she would react to the conditions during the concert. Catherine, Lily’s mum, said her daughter could be overwhelmed by heights, high ceilings and noise.

Staff helped find new seats that would be more comfortable for Lily, going over and beyond their duties to make sure she had a good time at the show. A small gesture for some people made a big difference for Lily.

Strangers from across the country donated cash for the 85-year-old victim of a heartless pickpocketing in Bexleyheath.

Footage of the theft went viral, leading to a crowdfunder being established that raised £2,000 for the victim – who had left her house for the first time after a stroke when she fell victim to the crime.

Police thanked the public for their immense support, and the CCTV appeal of the theft has been viewed all over the world – more than three million times.

Strangers turned up at a nursery in Dartford after it had toys and craft equipment snatched during a break-in.

A van full of new toys was delivered to Broom Hill Pre School following a News Shopper article – and a good Samaritan even set up a crowdfunder to pay for a new shed after the old one was damaged in the break-in.

The staff were inundated with new toys, but I'm sure the children didn't mind!

Staff at a Turkish restaurant worked gruelling double shifts and then gave away their hard-earned cash for a great cause.

Workers at the Meze, which has branches in Bexleyheath, New Eltham and Bromley, worked up to 13 hours and then gave their wages to Demelza Hospice – a charity that provides care for children and babies with life-threatening or limiting conditions.

Acts of kindness come in all sizes – but often it is the littlest gestures that have the biggest impact.

Eleven-year-old Ellie Keenan started having a anxiety attack in H&M in the Glades Shopping Centre in Bromley. Ellie’s mum felt like she couldn’t do anything to help, but shop staff came to the rescue.

The store’s manager took her from the packed shopfloor into the staffroom to let her recover, they told her not to worry and showed her the understanding and kindness needed. Well done H&M!

When 77-year-old Doreen Bromell collapsed while doing her Christmas shopping in Bexleyheath, she was saved by a passer-by who emerged from the crowd and performed heroic CPR until London Ambulance Service arrived.

Doreen’s daughter, Sarah, said this knight in shining armour should be citizen of the year.

After an article in News Shopper, Rikki Knight was tracked down and given the thanks he deserved – but he insisted he wasn’t a hero!

A little boy wanted to thank some strangers who came to his rescue after an iron fence fell on his face leaving him needing stitches.

Tyler Rickwood, aged nine, was walking down Yarnton Way in Abbey Wood on his way to spend his pocket money at the shops. He touched an iron fence that fell on him, flattening him.

Tyler’s mum, Kelly, said despite friend Cameron O’Leary’s best efforts Tyler couldn't be freed and might have been suffocated by the fence.

However, the little boy was rescued by a man called Dave and the driver of a bus passing by who rushed over to help him. Tyler needed stitches, and had to have the back of his head glued – but wanted to give his money to the nice gentleman who helped him.

Happy New Year!