The 85-year-old victim of a pick-pocket in Bexleyheath has received a cheque for £2,000 donated by strangers after a police appeal to find the culprits went viral.

CCTV footage released by police shows a woman having her purse containing £60 stolen by two men who appear to dip into her bag as she shops with her husband in the Co-Op in Long Lane, Bexleyheath.

The footage went viral, being viewed more than three million times all over the world.

A spokesman for Bexley police said: “This was the first time that the 85-year-old victim had ventured out following her recovery from a stroke and her husband was also recovering from a fractured spine at the time of the theft.”

Roshan Varma, a black cab driver, saw the footage and decided he wanted to reimburse the victim.

A Go Fund Me page was started, which raised the £2,000 given to the victim and her husband at Bexleyheath Police Station.

Mr Varma said: “It was fantastic, so touching. They are a lovely couple and there is nobody more deserving than those two.

“I felt sick when I saw that footage. I went on the local Facebook group just to find a way to give her £60 back. I was inundated that weekend with offers to help. So many people dipped into their pockets to help out and I am so happy to have been a part of it.

“I’m getting all the credit but it really was the community, their neighbours. This has restored their faith in humanity a little bit, and they really deserve it.”

The GoFundMe was backed by 182 people in one month.

Chief superintendent Stuart Bell, Bexley Borough Commander, met with the victim and Roshan and presented Roshan a Borough Commander's Commendation for dedication, community spirit and outstanding support to a vulnerable victim on November 20.

The couple will be using the money to go on a holiday, as they missed out on one earlier this year because of ill health.

A spokesman for Bexley Police said the investigation is still ongoing, although two males have been officially identified and are wanted by police.